Oswald’s eyes widened somewhat as Roi explained that there were many instances in which foals washed ashore in the Ridge. There had been a time once where he had asked his mother if he might ever get a little brother, but she’d only told him she had no intention of birthing more children. It had bummed him out a bit, even though he knew he had half-siblings through his father’s blood throughout the island and might get a little brother that way. He wanted one like Filumena who he could always hang out with and be around, not like the myriad of siblings he’d never met and… honestly may never get the chance.
But what if a foal washed up on the northern shore?
Oswald’s curious daydreaming schemes as to how to get a little brother were interrupted as Roi teased him, mentioning her two young sisters. If his face wasn’t already bone white, it might’ve paled further. As it was he blinked a few times and huffed a small breath, giving his head a shake before he admitted, “I dunno if I could handle that. One is kind of enough sometimes.” He grinned a bit sheepishly, despite the fact that it was definitely the truth. The thought of Filumena’s boisterous personality being doubled was almost overwhelming.
(Though, of course, Oswald would love them both just as fiercely as he loved Filumena.)
His square face tilted somewhat, ear flicking to where he could hear Roi speak, and a thoughtful expression furrowed his brow. His favorite part of being her big brother? It didn’t take very long before he knew, and when he answered Roi his voice was a bit softer. “I like how much she trusts me,” He pointed his face toward Roi, “She doesn’t care about, y’know, that I can’t see. Doesn’t make a big deal out of it.” Not that many horses did, especially in the Peak. Oswald was lucky to have lived a life where his condition hadn’t caused him to be ostracized or looked down on. But for Filumena it wasn’t even anything she seemed to think twice about. She had come into the world learning, accepting, and understanding the difference between them and always adjusted accordingly. “She trusts me to help her; thinks I can do anything. It makes me hope I always can.”
Saying so made him realize the slight worry that’d nagged at his mind. So far, even though she was quite young, it seemed Filumena had no interest in ever leaving the Peak. Oswald knew he should have some interest in living beyond its borders away from his mother, his sister, and his pseudo-family here in the Peak… but he simply didn’t.
“Hey, Roi?” His face turned toward her, he lowered his head somewhat as he asked, “Is it gonna be okay if I don’t want to leave the Peak for a while? I know you guys would never make me leave,” or at least he had a pretty big assumption they wouldn’t, “but, I just want to make sure it’s okay, cause I’m a boy and I’m getting older… I know I could always go live in the Lagoon-” as a young stallion, he was mostly expected to. As the son of the Lagoon boss he was definitely expected to be there rather than remain at the Peak. “-It’s just so hard for me to walk there. The mud catches me off guard and the sea smells so strong it’s hard to pick out other smells sometimes…” he trailed off, realizing he was complaining about the things he disliked about the Lagoon, which could make it hard on Roi if she was going to tell him that yes, he really should be going to live elsewhere than remain here. “It’s okay if I have to,” he added softly, “but I’d like to keep staying here.”
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