“And you” Skylar had replied with a smile before the quiet had fallen over them. It was short lived and Skylar’s ears twisted towards the mare’s voice as she studied Impa while she spoke. Everything that came from the older mare seemed sincere; as if she were a concerned friend. It put the tobiano at ease immediately and she rocked her weight so that she could rest a hind leg with only her toe touching the ground. At Impa’s final question Skylar felt her heart leap with joy before it fell; knowing that her desire to stay and the invitation could not be done.


“There have been many things in life that has taken me away from here.” Skylar replied with a heavy sigh. “When I was young I split my life between here and my father, making trips between Luthien and the Peak nearly every other day. When he left the Islands I thought I would be free to join the Peak for good and had every intention before….. some things changed in my life.” Rape was never expected and Skylar could not bring herself to elaborate upon the moment when her and Lyden had met. Skylar dropped her gaze down to the snow at their feet; not because she could not look at Impa but because she was drowning in the memories of when had had conceived Accalia. “I’ve always believed a child should have some type of father figure so I moved to the territory Lyden lived in; expecting to just raise the child and then come back Home. But then the next season came and I have loved my daughter so much that I wanted another. This is going to be my third child but my heart could not stand being away from the Peak any longer”


Whether Impa had wanted the whole story or just a short excuse, Skylar was unsure. It did not matter now since she had just blurted it all out and now she raised her golden eyes to look at the draft mare once more. “The Peak will always be my home whether I walk this mountain or not” she said strongly and without conviction. “But I love my children and I do not know how to walk in both worlds.”