Fate had finally come to take her due, and Siobhan hated it. She had known that things could not remain idyllic for so long, but she had not expected things to crumple in quite such a dramatic fashion.

Objectively she knew that Bjorn's absence did not necessarily mean that he was dead, but it was hard to not let her fears run wild. She felt like a failure for not having caught on sooner. Having Roisin and Aislinn to care for took up most of her time and she lost hours to watching them play together and learn about the world around them. She'd even come to look upon Ailill as a friend, despite his gender and coloration. It was nice to have a father interested in their child, even if they appeared to share no blood relation. Roisin had even taken to calling him Uncle A, which only warmed Siobhan's heart further.

Still, her guilt was compounded by the recent disappearance of Elvira and her children. Kalayani had been traded to the Lagoon, Siobhan had later learned, for the silvered co-queen of the Ridge and another that had yet to interact with the herd. It was a strange thing for Siobhan to consider. It felt callous and cold of her lover, but she had also been raised to understand that herd leaders were required to make tough decisions, and despite everything, it was clear that the grullo king of the Ridge cared for the silver mare. Why had yet to be revealed.

Ysabel, too, was gone, and with her the pretty Isabel and headstrong Askold, leaving the land even emptier. She'd never gotten close to the golden mare as she'd intended, but it was in her example that the red mare now walked. And it was with her leadership in mind that Siobhan now called for her herd family. The time had come for some tough decisions to be made, and whether she liked it or not, it had to be done now, before everyone scattered to the winds.

If Siobhan were being entirely honest, under the fear of the future and the anxiety about the herd and the various new foals within, lurked anger. She was angry with Bjorn and the risks he'd taken. Whatever matter was important enough for him to step away had left them all undefended and now at the mercy of the cruel hands of fate. The only respite she knew of was Paradise, and even going there had it's dangers. She'd never met the silver stallion herself, but she had already learned of Nyimara's connections there. Taking the herd there would almost certainly remove any authority she had over the Ridge's herd, but that was a fair bargain for her family's safety.

Siobhan waited until the girls were napping before she called out for the rest of the herd, although she doubted that they would stay this way for long. Ro had a nose for adventure and was never shy about demanding Aislinn's company for her escapades. She called for those remaining in her beloved jungle home, aware that the new claimor may hear and interrupt. It was a risk she would have to take if she were to keep the herd together through this tumultuous time. At least until Bjorn returned to ensure their safety.