relief roiled through her when she saw the young black mare in the distance shakily make her way to all fours. it had been some time since she and wasp had conversed but she could never shake the feeling that she had failed the filly. and now it had happened again. how could they have missed this? seeing the tear streaked fillies before her she vowed to do her best. to do better to protect this place. she slows as she approaches the pair, knowing the despair that is likely welling in their hearts. her ears flicker forward to catch wasp’s words. the brute cullen clearly needed to be taught a lesson. she had to do better. i have sorrow also. it is my failure… my failure the same as your own wasp… her tongue twists strangely trying to remember their way of speaking. it is almost as awkward as it had been when she first washed up on the shore of the islands. she feels kune at her side, as if he were an extension of her own body but doesn’t dare to look at him. she is afraid to show him the guilt in her eyes and afraid of other things.. things she cannot voice. she gathers her mind for a moment and speaks again more diplomatically. we are Božena and kunžak. we try to help. she gestures subtly toward the black figure beside her, a lame attempt at an introduction to the young mare beside wasp.

she had promised, some time ago, to protect this place and those in it. she could not forget that promise because kunžak had reunited with her… she owed them a debt. this place… what it stood for. her heart stammers as she tries to remember the words she needs. you are not alone here. i fight for this home too. i am too late this time but i must be help somehow. we can stand together she knows she must do this but wonders if kune will balk at her loyalty to them. he owes them nothing. he owes her nothing. finally she risks a sideways glimpse at him and sees only stone. his expression betrays nothing, even to her, and wistfully wishes she could break under that mask somehow and see what his heart and his mind holds. she trusts his devotion to her safety. it is the way of their people. but what if she needs more than that?