It had never, and would never, cross his mind to be angry with Lilika for her disappearance. Even when he had searched fruitlessly and thought perhaps she was somehow evading him on purpose, he felt only worry. The blanketed stallion was not easily angered anyway, but he especially could not imagine a situation where he would be truly cross with the blue roan. Part of this leniency was due to love, but he also knew Lily; it had never been in her nature to stir the proverbial pot. At least, not with Gnome.

Lilika finally spoke, and began to say his name. Her voice was just as he’d remembered, but she paused, seemingly unable to continue. Gnome pulled back from her mane to look at her quizzically, but ultimately chalked it up to her being overcome with emotion. He understood.

A smile played upon his lips as she spoke. Her disbelief was something he also felt. The situation was so surreal, he was certain he would suddenly awake from a dream. To reassure himself that it was reality, he ran his muzzle down the crest of her neck as she spoke. He’d never had such a vivid dream as this, so it must be true. It was as though all the pieces of his life had suddenly and neatly fallen into place. Well, almost. Their daughters were not here – well, only one daughter was missing, it turned out.

“I’m so glad Iris is with you. I’ve missed you both so much. We missed you both.” He corrected himself quickly, not wanting to leave their youngest out of the equation. “I left Eve on the mainland. We had settled in with my family for a time, and she wanted to stay there while I came here. In case you passed near our old homes.”

Her tug on his ear was a familiar gesture that brought him back to their youth, and he chuckled at it and her suggestion. “It’s a long story how I ended up here, but Paradise has grown on me. It’s nice not to eat dead grass for half the year, that’s for sure.” He smiled and looked into the jungle, where Rougaru and the rest of the herd likely resided. They seemed to enjoy the thick maze of trunks more than he ever would. “I am not the leader of the herd here, though. A stallion named Rougaru holds that title, and I am second in command. It has been a nice arrangement, but should you wish to return to Luthien I will happily go back home. I’m sure he would understand.”

As Lilika closed her eyes in contentment, he looked her over one more from head to toe. Again he lingered for a moment at the dark scars that littered her once flawless body. Anger flared deep in his core for a moment as he imagined what she had suffered. Not only was he angry at whoever had inflicted the wounds, but also he was angry at himself for not protecting her from harm. He set his jaw and looked broodingly out at the sea for a moment, lost in his guilt. He wanted, and needed, to know what had happened, but he was also afraid of hearing the details. Still, she had suffered more than he would by simply hearing the words.

Gently, he lipped at her torn ear and took a few steps forward to nose at her scarred flanks. “Will you tell me about these? I want to know, so I can help you shoulder that burden.”

Gnome