Had she lost him? Avangeline’s gaze searched every spare inch of Crossing Isle that she walked, worried that she had accidentally separated herself from Al-Hattaal for good. It was her fault that she hadn’t told him where she was going, or even that she was going at all. Maybe if she hadn’t had been so nervous to tell her companion that she’d made a friend who lived on Luthien, Al-Hattaal would have known that she was going to visit him. Why had she been so afraid to tell Al-Hattaal about Bjorn anyways? Why didn’t she want to tell Björn about Al-Hattaal? Every emotion that swelled up inside her when she thought of the two of them was absolutely puzzling… Avangeline did not know what any of it meant.
Someone more experienced, however, would understand it perfectly. The poor, sweet sheltered girl wanted to have her cake and eat it too. She had developed feelings for them both and couldn’t decide who she wanted to be with more. But Avangeline had never had feelings for anyone and so she did not understand that was why her heart seemed to beat faster in her chest or remembering them brought a smile to her mouth and an ache reaching throughout her body.
None of those confusing feelings would matter for long, however, if she couldn’t find Al-Hattaal. She was worried, too, that he would be cross with her. She hadn’t told him the truth when he’d asked her to accompany him when searching for his sister; he’d thought she was going to stay behind on Crossing Isle while he ventured forth. Had he returned and found her missing and grown worried? Oh… she hoped not. How cruel of her not to tell him of her intentions! What was wrong with her?
Sighing in exasperation, Avangeline stopped and, almost exactly at the same time, became aware of two individuals standing not too far from where she was. They were like her, she realized. Yet as her ears flicked toward them she thought of what Al-Hattaal had told her when the Arabian mare had attacked her. Did these horses also come from a place where they were separated by breed? Avangeline had never heard of a thing until Al-Hattaal had told her, but in spite of whatever rage might have inspired the Arabian to attack her, Al-Hattaal had not done such a thing. He’d been her friend and protector since they’d first crossed paths upon her first day on the islands…
Avangeline wouldn’t know unless she asked, so she swallowed down her worry and apprehension, nickering softly and preparing to move toward the two mares. However, at the same time, she became aware of a stallion approaching and paused in place, ears flicked forward and head raised on her thin neck as she watched him. When it was obvious he'd only moved closer to speak with them, Avangeline thought there could be no harm in asking him what she'd meant to ask the pair of mares as well. She started forward again, eyes bright and curious on the trio. “Uhm, excuse me?” She said in her soft, gentle voice, “I don't mean to intrude... I'm just wondering, you three haven't happened to have seen a stallion cross through here... black as night… His name is Al-Hattaal… he's an Arabian.”
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