No. I run from nothing.

A twitch of a smile almost curled at Oswin’s lips when the dappled mare spoke. Were this a few seasons prior there might’ve even been a gleam of excitement sparked in the pale and gold mare’s blue eyes. Instead she settled for looking the mare over, seeing the confident way she held herself despite being somewhere unknown.

What is this place?

There were so many answers that could be given.

“The Peak. A place for mares to come and live freely, away from the control of stallions. It meant more back when mares were considered less than among the islands.” A small bitterness bit at her tone and she barely kept herself from rolling her eyes. True, when Oswin was a filly the islands had still been stuck in their old ways, but by the time she’d matured change had already begun to blow through their chains. Still, despite that, it was always the Peak that drew her in.

“Come,” she beckoned, her soul not feeling as heavy and tired as it had moments ago, her pink chin tipping in toward the fog-laid summit. “We can walk as we talk so you can see more of it.”

Even if there weren’t more sisters to greet a potential new number among them, Oswin could show her the might of the Peak and maybe that would be something to behold. To her it always was.

“I’m Oswin,” she said by way of introduction, “I…” was once the Prime Minister, twice… “...I’ve lived here for some time.”

There was only a small pause before her curiosity got the better of her and, tilting her head and glancing up at the mare, she asked, “Have you been on the islands very long?”

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.