In the weeks since Tyssaia’s birth, Khar’pern has forced herself to spend most of her time in the lower hillocks and fields that ran along the Peak’s border with the Falls. She tried to allow the small filly to grow her mountain legs on the smaller boulders and inclines before risking the higher pastures' steep drops and high cliff faces. However, sticking so closely to the border did cause Khar’pern a sense of unease and restlessness that she did not remember facing with Diccon. Perhaps it was merely the years separating their births that caused the memories to fade. Regardless, she felt ill at ease as she followed behind the bouncing filly of sand and smoke, allowing Tyssaia to take the lead up the winding path that led toward one of the higher glens that they visited. A warm smile curved across the rose-hued mare’s lip as she watched the filly leap up a small incline in their path that days before might have given her pause. She was growing stronger and stronger with each passing day and before too much longer, Khar’pern felt certain that even the highest mountain peaks would be easy passing to the young girl. ”Slow down Tyssaia.” she chides halt-heartedly as the energetic girl rounds the bend ahead of her at a clipped pace. An exasperated sigh escapes Khar’s lips as the mare quickens her own plodding walk to a jog in an attempt to keep pace.


But then a call rings loudly from somewhere nearby. Causing the surefooted little filly to turn back with a startled bleat. She had yet to meet any of the sisters or even her brother yet. Khar’pern had learned long ago that solitude was a laboring mare’s best friend, even if it meant potential danger in the chance of passing predators. The minister had promised her soon they would meet the other mares of the peak, but had not expected it to be quite today.


Yet the vaguely familiar voice draws all sense of affection and emotion from her face as Khar shoulders past Tyssaia’s small frame and crosses the remaining path with stiff-legged apprehension. Was it another fleeing from a captor? Had the lagoon come sneaking into their midst once again? Was it a predator? Ever the pessimist, Khar’pern bursts from beneath the low-hanging branches of the treeline with silver eyes scanning the rolling hills. Sharp gaze settled on the subtle movement of Roisin’s sides as the russet and white mare lingered against the far treeline as though she were not quite sure whether this was the path her hooves were meant to take.


The sight of the former Minister is heartening, even if it is only for Khar’pern alone.


Waiting for a moment to feel Tyssaia press against her hip, the rose-gray mare lifts her finely dished muzzle to issue a warm nicker before slowly navigating her much slimmer figure through the knee-high grasses. A gentle smile slides across her ashen lips as Khar slows to a halt a few feet away, her dark lashes blinking appreciatively over icy eyes. ”It is good to see you again sister.” she breathes, letting the last word hang between them as though to judge Roisin’s reaction.

Khar'pern

The jungle is dark but full of diamonds;