He’d been waiting for her, watching the shores with apprehension every day after sunrise until the last moment of sunset. It hadn’t been obvious, of course: he’d entertained himself in the surf and the shore and spent many days simply grazing along the high hills that bordered the ocean end of his home. Some days he forgot to look. Somedays he didn’t want to. He was so used to disappointment that he almost didn’t believe it when he saw the familiar black form of his friend from the Crossing trotting along his beach.

He liked how she moved: fluid, confident, with her head up. She had a grace he hadn’t been able to see in the water that was more than obvious now, and for a moment he simply stood and watched her move. There was joy in life, and Şahin liked to think that Naziklik was just as aware of the muscles coiling and uncoiling under her sleek black coat as he was. Movement is why Şahin loved to run. The Nez Perce knew he looked good doing it, and better still he felt amazing with the wind rushing past his face and all four legs fully extended as he surged across the land. Running made everything okay.

The shining stallion of the sun and clouds snorted and trotted down the grassy hill he’d been grazing on to fall into step with the black mare on his beach. “Naziklik,” he greeted her, reaching out to nose her cheek. He snuck his tongue out and licked her broad jaw before dancing a few steps out of reach, his dark eyes shining. “It is good to see you again, my friend.”