Oswin’s last stay on the islands had not been as long as she might have liked, but there was reason for it. A reason she would, in fact, have to keep secret. As she climbed from the surf onto the familiar beach of Crossing Isle, Oswin snorted and shook her mane, allowing the wet strands to slap either side of her gilded neck. In the coming days she would need to travel to many islands for personal business, but her first act would be returning to the Peak which she had once called home and always intended to.

As Oswin walked, looking about and noticing how little the landscape had changed, she wondered if the same fate befell her Vulcan sisters. She hoped when she came to the foothills at the base of the Peak she would catch familiar scents or see familiar faces, but she tried not to put too much onto those wishes. If she could at least see Jetta again, she would be happy. Oswin missed her blood-sister.

Once the gold and white mare came to the foothills she drew up short, well aware of the emptiness which plagued them. Oswin blinked, glancing along the hills and knowing there were little places where some could rest and not be immediately seen. She whinnied and the boisterous call echoed over the landscape, but when no answer came she stretched her neck up and pointed her muzzle to the looming rock which gave the mares their name.

Not many traveled to the height of the peak considering how far the trek was, even Oswin herself had only gone a handful of times, always exalted by the site of the world far, far below her. But if she wished to mingle, as she did, it was often the foothills at the base of the Peak which Oswin called home.

The climb was arduous as ever, her hooves scraping rocks and her weight thrown strategically to keep her on the upward path as she went. Time passed, but Oswin kept moving, refusing to stop and rest in places where the path widened out. She would rest when she reached the top.

With her gold and white body damp with sweat, Oswin crested the top of the Peak and, to her immediate delight, took note of another already there. Oswin perked up, ears pointed forward and eyes warm and bright, a happy whinny rumbling from behind her lips. The wind stretching over the Peak’s top cooled her sweat-damp body and provided a welcome relief as she drew closer to the mare.

She was not recognizable, but Oswin was still happy to see her. “Hello.” She said with a smile. “Are you one of the Peak mares? I’m Oswin, I used to live here a year or so ago.”