Siobhan could not remember feeling so heartbroken and hopeful at the same time. The possibility of Cullen winning had hung heavily overhead like an oppressive stormcloud, throwing everything that might have given her joy into deep shadow. Despite the trauma that Aranck and Nyimara had put her through, she feared that something even worse would occur if she were to be imprisoned in the Lagoon. At least Aranck had been somewhat busy with other matters of land ownership and Nyimara's incessant needs.

Lagoon stallions would have no such distractions.

Thankfully, the lithe black shadow had prevailed, and the storm cloud had passed on, although not without damage. Guilt suffused the speckled mare each time that she thought of little Hades and the wound that he wore on his face. He would have never been disfigured if Siobhan had not drawn Nyimara's attention back to the Ridge, and consequently, to its other occupants. Only Ailill's steady love, and the reassurance of their family served to soothe her.

The fact that Cullen had not kidnapped him in the aftermath could not even be counted as character growth, considering he had left the injured weanling to die. Siobhan could only imagine what would have happened to her if she had been taken captive in the midst of the autumn season. The thought made her shudder, breaking her from her contemplative silence. To her surprise, dawn had already begun to break over the Ridge, bathing the lush landscape in hues of gold and pink. The places beside her were, empty, but she was not worried. Ailill and Zvaid often left on morning treks together to allow Siobhan the time to deal with the aftermath of the nightmares that still plagued her.

Smiling faintly to herself, Siobhan stepped from the small clearing they had claimed for their growing family and wound along the familiar paths. She would never have imagined that one day she might grow comfortable in this verdant landscape, considering her initial fear of the dark interior of the Ridge. For the longest time her perch had been seaside, where the seagrass blew freely in the few open beachfront grasslands. It had allowed her to keep tabs on the coming and going of the various residents and new visitors, and had given her the chance to intercept and alleviate some of Bjorn's worser moods.

The thought of her once lover still filled her with sadness, but it had softened over time from overwhelming grief to a queer sort of irrational longing that lodged beneath her chest. Not that she would trade her current happiness for the days that had come before, but the world had seemed much simpler. Now on this side of a few extra years, she could see all of the mistakes that she and Bjorn had made. How foolish she had been to pin all her hopes upon the one facet of the grullo stallion that he had actually shown her. A part of her still, and always would, love Bjorn, but it was not enough for her to regret choosing Ailill instead. Not anymore.

When at last she found her golden mate and their handsome son, she nickered softly and sped up until she was comfortably at his side. He had been the only reason she had been able to weather that terrible night of fighting and she sought that same solace now by burying her pale muzzle beneath the silken waterfall of his mane.

"Mmm," she murmured, closing her eyes for just a moment before pulling away far enough to speak. "Good morning handsome one, and," she announced playfully, dropping her muzzle to run it playfully along Zvaid's crest. "Handsome two."

"What trouble have you two been up to this morning?" Her gaze danced lightly between the two of them, and could feel her heart swelling with adoration of them. Her life felt so full these days with Zvaid and Ailill at her side. Their daughters roamed mostly close to home, although Siobhan couldn't help but wonder what Aislinn and Akadi were doing these days, so far away from her. Others too, had come to join their family. Asphodel and Prima had nursed at her side more often than not, and in truth, most of the Ridge foals had slept beneath her careful watch at one time or another. Her life was as perfect as it ever had been, and yet she could not help but glance carefully toward the distant shore… just to make sure no silver-haired villains were on their way.