Xina had waited patiently for Sahin’s response and had clung to each word that slipped from of his lips upon her back. But as he spoke the color of the stallion and the structure he was made of the muscles beneath the roan woman’s skin began to curl tightly. Thoughts churned rapidly through her mind and she too forgot about the grooming completely. The emotions that rushed through her were too fast to just grasp one and there were too many to even know which one to call what she felt. Heat flared across her skin and Xina felt her breath begin to rush through her nares much faster than before.


Pulling away from Sahin the mare felt like she could no longer breathe. Her airway felt closed off and a strange ache filled her chest that she had never experienced before. Xina took a few pacing steps to try and get more air by giving them space but it did not help; she only felt more claustrophobic than before. Closing her eyes tightly Xina forced herself to breath slower and to get a grip on herself. Gradually the roan mare began to get control of herself and when her breathing was finally normal and she no longer felt like she was suffocating she opened her eyes to look over at Sahin realizing for the first time in her life she had experienced a panic attack.


Though he had given a different name Xina had no doubt in her mind just who the stallion was. He is the only buckskin she knew that is close enough to her heart to realize the alikeness between herself and Mera. But why was he so unkempt and seemingly delirious as Sahin said? It made the roan woman want to strike out into the sea and find out herself; to confront him and all there was between them.


But as Xina focused her two toned eyes back on Sahin she knew she couldn’t do that. No matter the things she experienced rushing through her head or the heat that still flared across her skin she would not leave Paradise; even if she had ever intentions of coming back. There was too much at stake if she was to find this buckskin stallion and Xina had rather just close that off completely. Should he be as badly off as Sahin thought the man was then surely he could not make the swim to this Island to unsettle this little family and the relationship that she had just started with Sahin.


“I know who he is” she finally replied, her voice seeming strained as she closed her eyes and the image of Debonaire’s face flashed through her mind. “And he is unwelcome here.” Xina added as she opened her eyes to look at Sahin. It was then that she gave him a small smile that hinted at humor. “Don’t worry, I won’t go rushing off.” Even though that was exactly what she wanted to do. “But I do need time to think. I’ll find you later?” she asked as she reached over to bump his shoulder with her muzzle in a parting touch before she turned to leave.