Returned.

Three seasons passed since Oswin volunteered herself to go to the Lagoon once losing the battle to the bachelor stallion, Ernesto. Three seasons had passed since she’d vehemently forced her daughter to remain in the Peak and never once come to see her (though in moments of lull, when Oswin did not feel it necessary to remain in a nearly-empty Lagoon, she and Klara had met in the Falls). Three seasons and three battles later. Ernesto had informed her he’d release her as soon as she’d arrived – he’d only wanted the attention of the Vulcans. Oswin, furious, had refused to be released.

She would earn her release. She was ashamed of her loss, that she could have potentially put one of her sister’s in danger because she hadn’t been strong enough to protect them. Oswin wouldn’t return to the Peak until she had beat Ernesto, fairly, in combat.

The first return to battle had been nearly a repeat of the same. Another loss, she withdrew to sulk and comfort her wounds, but as soon as she was battle-ready again she’d charged forth. Another fight and this time – victory. With her head held high, Oswin could return to the Peak. Oswin could come home to her sisters. Her family.

The duo-colored mare, half gilded, half bathed in white, limped on the path homeward, nostrils flaring to drink in which scents remained familiar and which may have been strange. She’d barely lifted her pink nose to bellow out a beckoning call when a panicked, excited whinny broke her attention. Ears forward, her blue eyes caught sight of Klara – leggy, maturing every day which passed – stumbling from the brush and trotting toward her mother.

Oswin melted. Though she had snuck away to see her daughter sporadically, being parted from her at all had been a horrible torture she hadn’t realized. Klara collided into her – eliciting a grunt of pain from Oswin (her chest was sore where Ernesto’s hooves had kicked into her).

“Oh mama! I’m sorry!” Klara said, backing up with wide eyes which very quickly turned to anger. “Did he hurt you?! Oh I’ll show him,” she mumbled angrily, ears flicking back and pinning into her semi-long pale hair.

Oswin laughed. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. “No, Klara. Well, yes.” Oswin sighed, shaking her head. “I challenged him. I’ll explain more once our sisters arrive.” Whoever would, that is.

With Klara momentarily placated, Oswin turned her bright eyes back to the path winding into the foothills which eventually raised up into the Peak. Her sisters were there, somewhere. She opened her mouth and let loose a loud, beckoning cry.

The General was home.

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.