Though the top of the Peak was a difficult climb to reach, Oswin did so as often as she could. It was her favorite place to spend the night, where the open wind could roll across the top and tug at her hair, and the open night sky above twinkled with too many stars to count. The only issue with spending time at the summit was the time it took to climb up and down the slope taking that time out of her busy days.
Oswin had been all over the islands recently, working toward getting a personal understanding of what politics were unfurling among the chains. The Peak was not at the strength she wanted it at, yet. One day she hoped they would have enough strength to pay close attention to every island, but with their time and resources split, she’d needed to know who the “trouble-children” were, so to speak.
The gold-and-white splashed mare walked down the path, careful in her steps. The first month or so she’d been living here, her muscles ached in old memories of this use. Up the mountainside and back down again, frequently making a climb she hadn’t made in years. Every day she’d awoken sore, but always with a smile because of it. It felt like home again.
As soon as she jogged lightly off the path into the hills, Oswin’s perked ears caught the boisterous beckoning call ringing out from a little ways away. She came to a halt and turned her head, peering curiously in the direction before she whinnied an answer and turned herself to move that way. Her legs struck out and carried her over the swell of the grassy hill she’d been tucked behind, where she saw a dark mare waiting.
She didn’t appear like the sort who was coming to the aid of the sisters, needing them to help her from a malicious leader, but she was calling to the Peak. Oswin made her way down toward her and, as soon as she could catch her scent, noticed one she recognized with ease. The Lagoon.
Well now, this was certainly curious.
A mare from the Lagoon? Oswin couldn’t have hoped for someone better to meet. She wanted so badly to entrust the Lagoon as they said, trying to change for the better and no longer be a place that encouraged and raised monsters who’d terrorize the isles. But it was hard for her to look past her bias and completely trust them. Oswin was still waiting for the metaphorical rug to be ripped out from under her.
But a mare… A mare she would trust. Particularly one who lived there willingly.
“Hello…” Oswin started with a curiosity set heavy in her tone, blue eyes studying the mare. “I’m Oswin.” She stopped in front of her and couldn’t help herself. She just had to ask... “What brings a mare from the Lagoon to call upon the Peak mares?”
oswin
this is as brave as I know how to be.
I know it’s gonna hurt you, but please… be a little proud of me.