Oswin tilted her head as she watched the young girl, so filled with vigor and life even at such a young age. A quick touch of pain squeezed at her heart, thinking of how she made her think of Filumena when she was this age. Such a bold young girl. Hopefully wherever her mother was it wasn’t too far away and, hopefully also, if she came across Oswin speaking with the girl she wouldn’t be too upset. Regardless, Oswin was already making sure to lower her head a little, trying not to appear too large or domineering near the young girl.

Oswin blinked at her question asked directly after the first question she’d just opened her mouth to reply to. She laughed softly and then said, “Yes, I came from the Peak. Have you heard of the Peak?” Not everyone lectured their children on what the Peak was when they were young. Oswin had been a special case in her youth, as her mother had the significant meeting with Black Heart Machine, and in telling the story to Oswin it had made the mare a sort of hero in Oswin’s eyes. From the moment her mother told her the story to the moment her father seemed rather disinterested in the Peak and its structure, Oswin had a hunger to see it for herself. “It’s on Crossing Isle,” she clarified, in case Vhagar hadn’t.

“But before the Peak, I was born in the Prairie on Luthien.” Again she briefly wondered if the young girl knew of the other islands, either. “That was a long, long time ago, though.” She breathed a sigh out of her pink lips and tried not to reflect on just how many years had passed since she’d grown up in the Prairie.

“I’ve never stayed very long on Atlantis.” Only a brief visit, here or there. The last time of any significance was to meet with Rougaru in Paradise, wasn't it? It had only been a couple years since then, but it felt like a lifetime ago. “Maybe if your parents agree to it, you could be my guide?” Oswin suggested, “I’m going to need a good one to figure out the best places here.”

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.