He was only alone for a moment before a familiar nicker made him flick his ears and smile, testing the smells in her direction until he caught her scent. He gave a throaty little nicker back to her, happy to have her company. He was oblivious to the tense situation between her and his mother as Oswin had never spoken about it near him. Maybe she knew kids could be too honest for their own good, often parroting things they didn’t quite understand.

“Hi Roisin!” His chipper little voice greeted in return and he grinned as she ruffled his forelock, stretching his neck out to bump his lips on her chest and her neck before finally finding where her mane was so he could play with her hair, too. Then she asked him how he was and Oswald pulled his head back, flicked his ears and looked back the way his dam had gone.

“I’m okay…” He said. “Mama said she went to meet my sire.” His voice was a little hushed. “And that he’s going to want to meet me, too.” He was both excited and nervous, but he couldn’t decide which emotion was more dominant. “I’m supposed to wait for her to call me.” He explained, still looking off down the way his dam had gone, ears perked as he waited.

- - - - - - - -

He was right and Oswin could not deny it. He had given her enough time to herself before pressing the matter. “Fine, you’re right,” she admitted, nodding her head. But what was she to do? Should she call Oswald down now and have him come without telling Tyr first? No one had been cruel to Oswald for his lack of sight yet and she didn’t want the first one to be his father. But… could she protect him from that forever? And how was she supposed to keep them apart? Eventually Oswald would want to meet his sire of his own accord, she was sure. The longer she kept them apart the more she strained their relationship and possibly each of their relationships with her, too.

Oswin tried not to think about why the thought of Tyr being upset with her bothered her.

“There’s one thing I need you to know before I call him.” She explained. Oswin, never one to beat around the bush, decided to just come out with it. Of course, the more she spoke, the firmer her voice grew. “Tyr, our son was born blind. If you have a problem with him or see him as less than since he cannot see…” Maybe it was wrong of her to assume he would, but there would have been a time before she spent with Maziel that she would have worried more over the weakness and felt sorry for his state. “I’d like to ask you to keep it to yourself. He’s a smart colt, he’s adjusted well.”

She waited for Tyr to say his piece - whether he agreed to keep it to himself or called her ridiculous for thinking he’d have an issue with it - and then turned her head back over her rear and called loudly out.

- - - - - - - -

Whatever Oswald had been doing or saying was immediately interrupted as he heard his mother’s cry. It was time..

He stood hesitantly for a moment, like his body hadn’t caught up to the command to move. He almost asked Roisin if she thought he was going to like him, but swallowed and decided to go to his mother like she’d asked. He flicked his dark red tail nervously at his hind and started his careful descent, remembering how to place his hooves just like his mother taught him and where the trees, path edge, and large rocks were he might collide with if he wasn’t careful. Eventually he came around the edge and to where the ground flattened. He could smell his mother and…

Oswald froze after he’d stepped off the descending path. He lifted his pink nose in the air and caught the musky scent of stallion and sea, which was such a stark contrast to what he was used to smelling in the Peak. He walked slowly, wordlessly forward and stopped after his shoulder had rubbed up against his mothers. He pointed his ears and face in the direction the smell was strongest…

“Tyr, this is our son, Oswald.” His mother’s voice was gentle. He flicked an ear toward her, then pointed it forward again.

“Oswald, this is your father, the Lagoon General, Tyr.”

“Um… hi…” He squeaked.

oswin & oswald
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.