(A few weeks prior in the Ridge)

”You should tell her how you feel.” Ysabel says to her son. Lorcan shakes his ghostly pale head. She came to check on her son after having a chance meeting with her father. He needed to know about Isabel’s death and that fact that his estranged grandfather lived in the Prairie. Of course Ysabel was dragging her hooves about telling him those things. Isabel died a month ago, but she was still struggling to tell him. Lorcan has not been practically close to his other siblings because he has lived in the Ridge since he was six months old. He could have come back to the Cove if he wanted, but he enjoyed his time learning from his father. Siobhan was kind and it was nice to see his half siblings she had with Ailill. It was nice to see her. Roisin. ”No way mom. She is way out of my league.” Ysabel laughs as she lips the rosy color on her son’s cheek.

”You never know what can happen. You did try to save her didn’t you? She might thank that was heroic?” Lorcan rolls his eyes. ”But I failed. How is that heroic? I bet she didn’t even know I tried to make a deal with the Lagoon.” He grumbles. ”Why don’t you tell her then?” His head shakes again. ”Can we change the subject please?” Ysabel nods with a chuckle. ”Okay, okay. How have things been here? I don’t see your father or Siobhan. Are they still here?” The look on Lorcan’s face tells a story she wanted to hear. Her son looks concerned. ”It has been okay, but things are changing here. I haven’t seen dad around lately and I can tell from the look on Siobhan’s face that he was really gone. I think she got too lonely and now she is gone too. I don’t know where she went. Roisin left around the same time as well.” He sighs. Ysabel touches his shoulder. ”Now there is tension among the leaders.”

”What kind of tension?” Ysabel asks. ”They speak of a possible attack coming from Paradise.” Ysabel nods slowly as she pulls away from her son. ”I’ve heard whispers of war in the Cove as well. Solomon is somehow involved, but I don’t have any answers yet. I don’t even know if it will really happen or not.” Ysabel looks her son in the eyes. ”Maybe you should think about coming back to the Cove. That is unless you want to defend the herd here, but with your father gone you should come be with family on Tinuvel.” Lorcan nods slowly. ”I’ll think about it, but not yet. I want to stay here a bit longer in case he comes back.” Ysabel reaches over and nuzzles her son. She holds him close for a good couple seconds until he pulls away. ”I’m fine mom. Really. Dad has been distant ever since the drama with Siobhan being taken captive. So, really it’s okay that he is gone. I think I learned all I can from him.” Ailill’s disappearance was not the reason Ysabel holds her son.

No doubt losing a father was hard on her son, but at least Ailill was alive. As far as anyone knew. He could come back to his family one day, but Isabel could not. ”I have to tell you something important.” She begins as Lorcan locks eyes with her. He stays quiet because he can see the change in his mother’s face. Whatever she had to say was serious. ”Your older sister…Isabel,” Her voice cracks a little so her eyes close tight. When she opens then back up they were filled with water. ”Your sister died in childbirth, but your nephew Sigmund is healthy and very much alive.” Lorcan’s eyes drop. ”Oh…” There was not much he could say. He loved his family very much, but he has not been close to them lately. Isabel had always hung around him and mother when he was young and living in the Cove. She had always been so kind to him so losing her was upsetting, but clearly not as upset as his mother was. Lorcan reaches out to her and nuzzles her. ”I’m sorry mom.”

(current time)

He thought on it for weeks, but it took Faolain’s departure to get him going. He was learning each day with the longing looks on what was left of the Ridge herd that he could not wait any longer. Roisin had already left once without a goodbye (at least to him) and couldn’t wait until something else happened. You never know when death may come or when one would decide to leave the islands like some of the Ridge herd has. With the heavy memory of his sister in his heat, Lorcan dives into the large waves of the ocean. He swims towards the large mountain in the distance. It was the place he last heard Roisin to be, the Peak. As the ghostly colored stallion reaches the beach of the mountainous region he prays she was still here. He just had one thing to say and then he could go. Hopefully this courage stays with him when he finally finds her.

Lorcan enters the territory of the Vulcans, but he does not go far from the beach. This was a land of mares seeking refuge from their abusers. A land where the mares had full control of what happened and stood against the power of man. He knew here Roisin would be safe. As long as she was still here. He stops in the green valley below the mountain and calls for anyone in the vicinity. The greying skies begin to shed a light rain upon the land as he waits. Was this good sign or a bad one? Icy blue eyes scan the area at the first sign of movement. Oh please let this be her.