Şahin moved forward as the boy joined him and followed a well-worn path that led to the beach. The Nez Perce liked to be near the ocean and the herd seemed to spend more time at the far edge of their territory than back by the cliffs of the Ridge that bordered their home. There was a thick jungle-like area off to one side of the territory, but Şahin detested the close space and strange wildlife that called such an area home. He preferred the open fields and skies that made up most of Paradise. He glanced around as they walked, an easy smile on his face, and sighed contentedly.

He glanced down at the colt as they walked. “This doesn’t require an immediate answer, but I was wondering whether or not you’ve given any thought as to what you’d like to do in the future,” he said. Conquistador would be mature before Şahin knew it (foals all seemed to grow so fast) and he was glad that he and Xina had discussed the young palomino when they did. It would have been a shame to extend the offer of a more or less permanent home in Paradise to Conquistador when he was fully matured only to discover he might have made plans of his own, or assumed that he would not be welcome in the herd anymore.

It did not take long for the two of them to reach the beach, and Şahin paused for a moment as he stared into the water and then along the length of the shoreline. He found what he was looking for and angled toward a large piece of driftwood he had used as a landmark the first time he had discovered what he was about to show the boy, and did not stop again until they were beside the rotting chunk of wood. Şahin didn’t look at it again, as it wasn’t important now, but stared out to sea with one ear cocked toward Conquistador. “Any thoughts?” he asked, looking over at the palomino with a patient eye. They were nearly at their destination, but he wanted to know what Conquistador thought before he led the boy any further.