Breathless.

Oswin was breathless and not only due to the strenuous, muscle-aching climb it had taken to reach the top of the towering peak. It was more beautiful here than she could have fathomed and she marveled at how much one could see, imagining if she inched closer to the cliff face she might see even more. Immediately her mother’s tense, panic-stricken voice rang in her ears regarding the dangers of creeping too close to what would surely be a deadly fall. Oswin might miss her mother but she did not miss her overprotective ways.

The dull sound of hooves against the unyielding ground drew her mind away from the vast height and openness of the peak. With ears pointed forward, Oswin glanced at the stranger and though she was absolutely certain she’d never crossed the path of the white-faced mare, she could deny a strange feeling of familiarity. She grinned, head lifted upright. “I don’t mind, I actually just got here last night too. Well, back here.” Oswin corrected with a bit of a thoughtful frown. “To the islands – not the Peak – this is my first time up here.”

Realizing she was spouting off a bunch of different explanations this mare never asked for, Oswin shook her head and laughed with an apologetic air. “Sorry, I’ve never been up this high before. It’s kind of awesome and has me a little scatter-brained.” She looked at her companion, wondering where she’d come from the night before and why she’d chosen to come to the peak. Was it for the same reasons Oswin had? Had she heard about this place and wanted to see if it was everything she’d dreamed it was?

“I’m Oswin, by the way.”