Since Galexia’s brief era as ruler of the Desert, Cerosi has been even more solitary than usual. She wanders the outskirts of the territory like a fugitive, avoiding the gaze of the herd and especially of the strange, pregnant palomino. It takes her a while to realize that Cain is back in power, and though this is comforting in her struggle against the memories of her abusive past herd, it does not immediately lure her back in. She remains at the edges, inching slowly into the Desert’s borders, feeling mostly guilty that she had not taken any action nor gone to see Cain in this strange turn of events.

It is only the distant call of an unfamiliar mare that eventually rouses her from her dissociative pacing, and Cain’s echoing answer that guides her hooves to begin moving her forward. The silver mare starts slowly, but picks up pace as the familiar landscape stretches out before her and Cain’s comforting scent reaches her flared nostrils. She arrives at the gathering at a canter and slides to a halt some distance away, not quite close enough for the sand cloud she has thrown up to reach them. She approaches slowly now, emerging from the haze of dust with a cautious golden gaze bouncing from horse to horse. Most she does not recognize, but there is Cain, and her heart seems to settle at the sight of him, encouraging her to join the circle.

Cerosi lets out a soft whicker of greeting and stops only a pace or so away from the others. She does not know who made the first call to gather them here, but everyone seems to be looking at the painted arabian closest to Cain, so her eyes linger on that mare as well. She waits patiently and curiously to discover what it is they have been gathered for. Her stress over Galexia’s rule is fading now that the herd is here before her, their familiar scents washing over her.