Eve was painfully aware of her heart beating. It pounded harder than it had since…actually, she had no memory of ever feeling this way. The few moments of silence felt like hours as she held her breath and her heart attempted to leap from her body through her throat. And then, the other mare said her name. Eve gasped at last, disbelief flooding her. How could this be? Everything around them seemed to melt away for a moment as she stared hungrily at her lost sister. They were both taller, of course, but Iris looked just as familiar as her faded memory allowed. She beamed at her sister, happier than she had been in what felt like years.
And yet, something was wrong. Iris laughed, but tears accompanied the sound. She turned her attention to the stallion with words about their father. Eve, mortified, realized she was right. Gnome would never ignore another horse. He’d raised Eve to be more polite. “I’m so sorry, my sister is right! I am Eve, and I apologize for our rudeness.” She dipped her dark head to the painted male. He seemed rather friendly, which furthered her embarrassment at forgetting he was there.
Iris, however, seemed to be acting rather strange. She was alternating between laughter and sobs. Eve shot a concerned glance her way, and noticed that she’d moved closer but just out of reach. It baffled Eve, who wanted nothing more in this moment to go to her sister and lean against her. Perhaps Iris was trying to be polite still. Forcing herself to tear her gaze away from her sister once again, she listened carefully to the stallion. “Thank you. I really can’t thank you enough. Had you not run in to her –“ She paused, emotion causing her voice to catch as Iris’s had only minutes before. “Well, let’s just say I have been looking for Iris for a long, long time.”
Redirecting her attention to Iris once again, she bridged the gap between them and tenderly touched her muzzle to Iris’s dark, strong shoulder. “It’s me, Iris. I’m here. We’re here.” She felt warmth spread through her, and she began to silently shed tears of her own. This reunion was so unexpected and sweet, but there was a note of bitterness. Where was their mother? This was a question that needed to wait until they were alone.
She couldn’t help but to shift herself so the whole length of her body was pressed against her sister’s. They now both were facing the strange stallion who somehow was fated to bring them together again. With tears still falling, Eve addressed the male again. “I am glad you've recently had a reunion of your own. May I ask you your name?” she said with a smile.