Oddly enough the presence of the others became nearly forgotten in Adelheid’s relief and joy at seeing her sister again. Though relief flooded every vein of Adelhied’s body, she still stood still as Jetta’s eyes inspected her, while her own did the same. They had both truly changed and remained the same. She had marks from her travels, while her sister seemed to bear the signs of motherhood. As they drew together, Adelheid poked ever so gently at Jetta’s neck. Too thrilled to see her not to touch her, yet still stiffened and unused to hugging anyone. It was still wonderful to feel the press of another body against her, even if she could not return the embrace. She knew she had reconnected with her blood and this time she was not going to turn her back on it.

She looked at her sister’s tear streaked and smirked. It was as if every time she saw Jetta she had tears running down her face. Adelheid rolled her eyes, but still could not keep the corners of her lips from grinning. Obviously I had to come and make sure someone was keeping your hooves on the ground. she growled affectionately, nipping at Jetta’s long mane. I would not want to see you literally fly away. Or fall into some other disaster. The smile flickered uncertainly for a moment. In a rare show of tenderness, the jaded mare gently touched her nose to the wet trail down Jetta’s face. That I was dead. she finished bluntly, her heart cringing. She had seen so much of it in her life, starting as a child, she could not imagine what her sister had thought had become of her. Dying alone as their mother might have done. Falling from a cliff to be impaled by rocks below or falling victim to the clutches of predators. Guilt wrenched at her. She had left her sister in ambiguous loss, not knowing the truth and never knowing if there would have been hope. Adelheid was breathless, knowing exactly what it was like to wish for hope and never know if it was real.

Her head turned away in shame. I am sorry, Jetta. I have not been the sister I should be. I never have been… she had to bite back the words and smother the screaming thoughts. Give me the chance again? She became fully aware they technically had an audience around them. Stepping back, her ears twisted too and frow and her head lowered, hoof scraping in the ground. She knew one of the onlookers was her brother. It was only before her family that she allowed herself to feel and to show it. And you, Argento… Her tail swished, her eyes switching between the others, the strangers, and she stomped her foot, head tilting slightly, lips pursing in bitterness with herself. I… don’t know who the rest of you are. Her voice had reclaimed a little of its drawling sarcasm. It was not hard to assume the others were also her blood, further and physical proof that Jetta’s life had drastically changed in her absence. She looked over at her sister, the smirk fitting itself again on her face. Somethings you want to tell me? she looked pointedly at the protective young man, and wandering filly. Desperately she was trying to get herself back on solid ground and to stop… feeling.