She was home! Her wayward hooves dug into the sands of the shores. Before her body could even fully leave the waves of the ocean she was dashing over the land she had come to love so much. She had left with her mother seasons before only to feel the calling need to return to these islands. Her lips curled into a soft grin and she released a whiny into the air. She had answered a call to come home.

Peppered roan body streaked over the trails of Crossing. The young mare visited each and every one of her usual haunts! She rolled for a moment under the sun in the middle of the meadow, splashed excitedly through the mists and shallow rivers of the falls. Striped hooves carried her behind and through the mighty downpours. Soaking wet her spirits were far from dampened! With a toss of her head and not even a shake of her coat she was off again! Nothing could stop the energetic woman from fully embracing her land, her home, her life and her soul. At last she came to where she knew she needed to be. Holding her breath her chocolate colored eyes were alight as she looked up into the mountains. The Peak looked down at her and suddenly she felt as though she did not need to hold her break, the majestic mountains had stolen it from her. She took one step and felt the power radiate through her. This was truly where she was meant to be.

Every trail she knew, every twist and every turn. Her years of exploring thundered back into her as her hooves pounded against the stone. So much had changed in so little time, but everything was just as it always had been. Her friends were missing, but their spirits still sang from the cliff faces and the magic was still here. Braying again with her glee she continued her charge up the cliffs her mother’s hooves had once travelled until at last! she slowed to a stop on a certain cliff. This was it. This was the place she had been born, reborn, and born again.

Taika looked out over the land in a place caught between earth and sky. The sun started to set, lighting up her bleached flame mane and tail with its pastel salmon pints and coral orange. She closed her eyes and breathed deep. In her chest beat the heart of a Vulcan once more.