“Remember the stories I told you of the Peak? Of the warrior women who live there?” Mae whispered softly into Kaeja’s fuzzy ear, just loud enough for her daughter to hear. “I think it’s time you get to meet them.” The pale mare smiled, her eyes soft despite the worry hidden behind them. “But it has to be our little secret.” Fell couldn’t know what was happening, he couldn’t know what Mae planned to do despite the roundness of her belly and the risk she was taking with the life growing so abundantly fast in her womb. So, when the ink-colored stallion was away; making his patrolling rounds, or gone from the island entirely, she wasn’t sure, Mae led Kaeja to the shores of Tinuvel. Looking across the gentle waves that bridged the gap between the two islands, Mae knew this was the best time if she was going to do this. With the moon cast across their backs, the pale mare reached over and nuzzled Kaeja’s shoulder assuring the filly. “You can do this. I’m right here with you.” Mae whispered before she eased off into the water, making sure to keep Kaeja close at her side.


Despite it being Spring, the water was still frigid and was a shock against Mae’s skin. Perhaps even now, seasons later, she was still more accustom to Salem than she cared to admit. The swim was easy though, which she praised whatever gods might be watching for their mercy the entire way until they made it to the Crossing’s beach. “Whatever might happen from here, Kaeja, you must make it to the Peak.” she told her daughter, but didn’t delve into an explanation. Instead, despite having weary legs from the extra weight she was carrying and the swim she wasn’t used too, Mae picked up a trot as she led her daughter across the lower lying lands. Blue eyes constantly scanned their surroundings, knowing that Fell could be lurking anywhere, and he would be boiling with rage if and when he caught on to what the pale mare had done.


He shouldn’t have taken her daughter from her, and he shouldn’t have terrified Kaeja with whatever he had done.


As they started to make the climb up the steep assent, Mae felt winded. She wheezed for every breath, her legs wanting to collapse beneath the load they carried and the energy they now lacked. Only reaching halfway up the mountain, Mae had to stop. “We’ll rest here.” she told Kaeja, reaching over to nuzzle the dark shadow beside her softly. “It won’t be long before we’re found.” she smiled. Although her words were meant for the Peak mares, she hoped it was not Fell first.