mare; mérens horse; 14hh; black
3 years
no home
Nadine listened raptly as Berit answered her torrent of questions. Her ears stayed focused on the sooty mare, unable to be pulled away by any of the activity around them; Berit had her undivided attention. Nadine was delighted to learn that this was not just one lone island, but part of a chain of several islands. She kept her gold eyes on the Desert mare, nodding along until she was finished. She had indeed noticed Berit’s heavier frame, and the utter pride and love in her voice when she spoke of the Desert. There was no resentment Nadine could sense for the dry, hot lands she had traveled from. If it was comfortable in the Desert for Berit, it would be comfortable to Nadine, surely.
The mention of a stallion in the picture did not dissuade the little black mare from her interest in Salem and all it had to offer. From the brief description Berit provided, the sunsoaked island sounded like the exact opposite of Nadine’s homeland, and exactly the change she was looking for. The mountains had been steep, difficult to navigate, and cold, where the Desert was flat, open, and hot. Cain sounded like a gentleman at that, not like the stallions Nadine had grown up with. In her old home, a stallion would not dare let one of his mares wander off on her own. And here Berit was, independent and happy to return home to her savior at the end of the day. It was so different, so… enticing.
Nadine shuddered with excitement when Berit officially extended the invitation to her. She had not wanted to assume, but the black mare had been practically waiting to ask when she could come see the Desert. Hearing she was welcome to not only explore but stay if she liked it (or leave if she didn’t) was almost too good to be true. She bowed her head as though to hide the extent of her excitement, gold eyes sweeping the lush green earth at her feet. Was she really ready to leave the verdant Crossing for the golden sands of the Desert?
Well, she could always move along if she didn’t like, but she had a feeling she would stick around.
”Mon amie, I would love to come,” she said decisively. ”Enough winters for me on the Mainlands, I am not yet ready for another. And I thank you for the offer, truly.” She turned her body South in case Berit intended for them to leave straight away. ”You say your island is past the Lagoon? Is it very dangerous?” Of course, she would not be deterred if it was. The little Mérens was optimistic to the point of naivety. She trusted Berit after only having known her for a few moments, and would have followed her through a pack of wolves if asked.
Nadine
