The trek to the Lagoon from the Peak wasn’t horrendously long, but with her freshly sore shoulder and battle wounds it felt longer. Oswin relished every step where pain throbbed throughout her body, grabbing to that sensation and using it to drive her forward. The bachelor Ernesto might have won this battle, but Oswin knew there would be another in the future, as soon as she felt somewhat healed, and there would be another… and another… until Oswin had successfully won her freedom away from the Lagoon.

She would not return to the Peak until she had proved to her sister’s she was valuable as their General. A warrior who failed a fight was no General and Oswin wouldn’t hold the title for a novelty. She needed to earn it.

The stale scent of still water and mud crawled toward her, interwoven with the faded and fresh scent of stallions. Oswin wrinkled her nose in distaste, ears turning back, thinking of how this place was everything she raged against and loathed. This place was filled with stallions who thought they could hold mares captive to be their little trinkets rather than treat them as the individuals they were…

Oswin favored her sore shoulder with her ears turning back and her eyes flashing. She would love to give them a piece of her mind but first, she’d start with Ernesto. Oswin did not come quietly and nor did she sulk for losing – as soon as she was certain she’d walked deep enough into the Lagoon, the Peak General lifted her head and bellowed out a strong, loud whinny that echoed through the grass and the trees.

“Come meet your newest prize.” She grumbled under her breath, narrowing her eyes at the distant land, waiting to see who would manifest first.

oswin
this is as brave as I know how to be.
I know it’s gonna hurt you, but please… be a little proud of me.