As ever, the herd was quiet, and the constant hush of falling rain began to lull Orhan into the earliest stages of sleep. Yet, just as his mind began to conjure visions of the dream world, the distant squelch of hooves in mud and wet sand drew him back to reality. One ear pricked forward, and his eyes slowly opened. At first the stallion could see nothing, and so he let his eyelids droop again, but soon enough, over the din of the rain he began to hear rustling in the foliage near him, much closer than before.

This time Orhan lifted his head and watched to see who it was. He imagined it might be Koray or one of the other foals, amusing themselves while all the adults weathered through the rainstorm. A flash of white through the greenery seemed to confirm his suspicions, and the stallion smiled. “Ghostwood,” he called out to the filly - completely unaware it was not her - to draw her out of hiding. He had spent little quality time with Ava’s daughter: something he hoped to change, now that the opportunity had presented itself.