Madison stares up at Jetta with those stormy eyes of hers, and she wishes, for a moment, that her and Marcelo’s birth mother had never been their mother, that instead, they could have been born alongside this colt, with Jetta as their mother. Because the way that this mare looks at them, Madison has not seen that sort of look in so long. She had seen pity, and even revulsion, but the way Jetta looks at them…is something different, Madison thinks, eyes continue to grow hopeful.

You can stay here. And with those words, for the first time, Marcelo’s earthen gaze softens as he looks up at the mare with her moon-washed face. Madison’s ears press forward in eagerness before she attempts a little hop of joy, though ultimately, she winds up on the ground in a pile of long, skinny, limbs, due to her own exhaustion, hunger, and just the typical lack of balance common for young foals. Marcelo is quick to reach her and he puts his small, flaxen head underneath hers in an attempt to help raise her up before he stands side-by-side with her once more to look to the mare. She speaks kind words and Marcelo bows his head slightly. “We will be good,” he says, his words sealing a promise to her. The twin’s eyes fall briefly to Wade, Marcelo bobbing his head slightly in greeting to the colt, while Madison continues to stare wide-eyed. And then once more he nodes his head in response of her offer for them to follow her and provide them nourishment.

While Marcelo remains distant, still untrusting, but willing his small heart to try, Madison rushes to Jetta’s side and burrows her crimson painted face into her shoulder, feeling hope growing inside her petite breast once more.

x-marcelo & madison-x