>Fulvius Stellus strode through the grove, empty waterskin in his hand.
>Usually he wouldn’t be one to go for a water. 
>But some weird minute feeling prompted him to leave his two clients and his slave.
>And while they were tending to the camp at the roadside of Via Appia, he went to find a stream.
>Being an experienced survivalist, as much as an ex-legionnaire can be, he quickly found what he wanted.
>The air betrayed a distinctive smell of humidity. He attuned himself to it and walked to a clearing.
>There he froze in place, stunned by what he saw.
>At the clearing, near a small spring, stood the creature, without a doubt, of ethereal origin.
>A large but still statuesque mare, her mane and tail luxuriously colored in yellow, dark purple and violet.
>Her coat was of lightest shade of pink, like a blossom of cherry tree.
>Two feathered wings, like that of Pegasus, folded on her back and her forehead adorned with long and sharp horn.
>Knowing, that it’s customary for gods or their immortal servants to take a liking of some fantastic creature when manifesting themselves to mortals, he promptly knelt.
>The mare raised her head from the water she was drinking and smiled at him with almost human smile.
“Salve, o wondrous mare!” he said, “You surely must be one of the highest ranking messengers of some deity, or even a goddess herself! Please, tell this lowly mortal who you are, so he can honor you in a suitable way.”
>The mare laughed in a pleasant silvery tone.
>She unfolded her majestic wings and took a step towards him.
>”Look at me, my faithful Fulvius!” said the mare, “Look at me and tell yourself, who you think I am.”
“You must be Venus, from how beautiful you are.” answered Fulvius bowing even lower.
>The mare smirked.
>”And why do you think Ve- I took this form to speak with you?”
>Fulvius was silent, looking at her with hesitation in his eyes.
>”Come on, Fulvius. Tell out loud, what I clearly see in your heart.”
“Because, o goddess, this mortal thinks that there is nothing more beautiful in the world, than a mare.” He answered in a quiet voice. 
>The divine mare nodded. Her horn lit up and Fulvius Stellus noticed that his nethers also began to glow. 
>Alarmed, he wanted to jump up.
>”Do not be afraid!” the deity reassured him, “Tis my gift to you. Return home and continue to love your wife, being faithful to her as you’ve always been.”
>Said this, the mare turned away. A shimmering ring of light appeared before her and she went into it, leaving the clearing.
***
>Twas a beautiful morning.
>Fulvius Stellus exited his bedroom and descended to the first floor of his villa.
>He stepped outside, smiled at the clear blue sky and went to a well.
>There he filled a voluminous wooden bucket with water. Then he went to a barn and fetched an armful of hay, almost half as large as his whole body.
>Slaves working in the courtyard bowed to their master, but didn’t make any attempt to help him, knowing his preferences well enough.
>With the bucket in one hand, hugging the hay with other he walked back to the house.
>He entered the large and spacious room at the first floor.
>The room’s inhabitant greeted him with a loud happy neigh.
>It was a chestnut mare, healthy, well groomed, elegant and beautiful.
>Fulvius lowered his cargo to the ground and approached her.
>The mare extended her neck towards him and he tenderly hugged her head.
>She nuzzled his face. They stood for a while inhaling each other’s breath.
“My beautiful darling…” 
>He whispered with an inexpressible affection and tenderness, almost unbecoming for a Roman warrior.
>He disengaged from an embrace and presented her the bucket of water.
>She drunk it in one go and approached the hay pile, which she began to munch on.
>She was in so pristine condition she didn’t need any brushing whatsoever.
>But Fulvius Stellus still got her curry comb and stood there, grooming and combing her mane and tail while she was eating.
>Having done the grooming, he knelt besides her, hugged and tenderly caressed her pregnant belly.
“The goddess blessed us, my love.”
>He said, listening to a distinct double heartbeat, sounding from within her.