Sterre watched Inka and Het Vuur’s reunion with an guarded expression. Inka seemed so happy to see him, even after the way he had treated her, the way she had walked out on him. When she lifted her head and turned her eyes towards Sterre, they were filled with unshed tears.

She couldn’t imagine any of her children ever being so happy to see her.

When Inka spoke to her, Sterre could only offer her a nod of acknowledgement. The gesture was almost respectful. She wondered faintly whether she should smile, but the situation felt to foreign that she wasn’t sure how to react. Sterre was never thanked for anything.

She was glad when Inka looked away.

The filly redirected the conversation for them, prompting introductions. Jetta, that was her name. Sterre watched once again as Het Vuur slowly approached his granddaughter and began to nose at her curiously. The filly tolerated his touch patiently, though she looked clearly uncomfortable. No doubt this new family member was a lot to endure, let alone his probing.

Inka called him off, and he retreated obediently.

This, however, left Jetta’s attention free to wander, and it quickly settled on Sterre. Are you my grandmother? Her dark eyes flicked to Inka briefly, unsure how to answer. Their whole family was too difficult to explain to a child in just a few words, so she settled for something vague.

“Something like that,” she replied, forcing a brief smile that probably looked as false as it felt.

Thankfully, however, she was saved from having to go into any more detail by another arrival. The sound of hoof-beats and rustling leaves announced the other horse’s arrival, and as Sterre turned her head to see who it was she was surprised to find a familiar face.

Impazienza.

Had all of their companions from their past life gathered in the Peak to witness their humiliation? It certainly felt that way. All of these horses that they had once felt so superior to, who they had held so much power over – it was their chance now, to see them at their lowest.

It felt like punishment to look into Impazienza’s blind eye, just as it had with Rook. They had both been weak to her then, but look at Het Vuur now. An eye for an eye for an eye. She wondered if they thought it was just.

But the big mare’s tone was calm, controlled. She greeted them politely. She was the better horse, Sterre supposed, but then they had never really been competing for that title.

“Impazienza,” Sterre greeted stiffly, raising her chin.

Her dark eyes flicked towards Het Vuur. She didn’t know what else to say.

this thing of darkness
I ACKNOWLEDGE MINE