The mare’s upbeat, warm and welcoming nature immediately put Oswin at ease and heightened Filumena’s curiosity considerably. Her little filly even giggled a bit beside her, looking up at Oswin as Oswin glanced down at her. “Tumbleweed,” she whispered back delightedly, clearly amused by Reef’s little joke. Oswin chuckled softly under her breath at her daughter, then paid better attention to their company.

“We can continue up the incline if you’d like,” Oswin offered, tilting her head back the way they’d come and side-stepping her haunches to clear more space if the roan mare wished to walk forward. “It’s a sight to behold at the top.” It wasn’t difficult for the love Oswin had for her Peak bleed so heavily into the words every time she spoke of it. She loved to show horses to the summit for the first time, to watch that same awe bloom across their face as they bore witness to what it looked like to see the glory of the islands from above.

A soft laugh left her lips, though not mockingly, as she realized why her addressing the Peak mares as her sisters could’ve made Reef think they were blood related. “Oh, no, we’re not related by blood.” She smiled at the mare and felt a curiosity tickling her mind, but she tried to set it aside…

Oswin was always keeping an eye out for mares she felt would carry the mission of the Peak forward, or who could also seek sanctuary here and remind her of why she fought so hard to keep this place theirs. But she mentally checked her eager nature, knowing it might come across a bit desperate if she launched into a speech as to why she already thought Reef may love it here. All Oswin could do was talk about the vision she saw for the Peak, show Reef around and maybe, just maybe, their numbers could grow one stronger by the end of the day.

“The Peak is home to any mare who seeks its shelter, and we consider one another a family once we live here. It comes from a time on the islands when a mare wasn’t free to travel at her whim or make her own decisions…” Oswin trailed off softly, glancing at Filumena and feeling grateful none of her daughters had ever had to grow up during those times. Of course, even though she had, Oswin had been the last generation born before mares rebelled and claimed their own territories. “When they banded together here, they found strength among themselves and developed a sisterhood. I like to think we carry that energy with us still to this day, even if things aren’t as dire across the islands as they once were.” She smiled, then tilted her head back toward the incline behind her.

“Shall we?”

Filumena bounced a little ways from her mother and grinned up at Reef. “It’s really cool up there, you’ll feel like a giant!”

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.