The moment the large, dark mare put herself between Oswin and Rosalina, Oswin’s ears pinned flat against her neck. The serious air she’d held before shifted into something with much more malice, and she struck at the soft Atlantis earth with one of her front legs, dragging a shallow groove into it. This mare was much, much larger than Oswin was, and younger, too. The power of her kicks would do far more damage to Oswin, and any strike the gold-and-white mare gave would have to be calculated and sure to hit the soft spots rather than where Siren’s Symphony appeared as packed muscle.

Still, despite the hardships that engaging in a physical altercation with this mare would bring, Oswin wouldn’t once hesitate before launching into action. But right now, with the child so close to the mare and Siren having put herself between them, Oswin couldn’t risk the girl getting injured accidentally amongst the scuffle.

Little Rosalina poked her head beneath the shadow of the mare’s barrel, sticking out her tongue at Oswin, and Oswin’s expression hardened. Oh, she was absolutely going to be telling the girl’s mother exactly what had happened here. But, at the moment, her attention needed to stay on the Paradise mare. She flicked her gaze back up to meet Siren’s, pale ears still turned back and pulled against her neck.

She is yours, my pretty Oswin?

Oswin felt a chill crawl over her at the words, and it only made her angrier. Her blue eyes flashed and she said, quite firmly, “She is mine.” Oswin’s to protect, to keep safe, and to watch over.

Rosalina seemed to attempt to move, but the large mare whipped her head around to bare her teeth at the girl and Oswin lunged forward. She still didn’t want to spark a physical altercation, but if she could draw the large mare’s attention away from Rosalina, the girl could get to safety. It wasn’t likely because Oswin had lunged, but her own way of toying with Rosalina and toying with Oswin that Siren stepped to the side and allowed the yearling to come free. Oswin’s tail snapped with a few irritated flicks at her hind. She held herself steadfast as Rosalina tumbled into her, swaying in place but keeping her hooves planted.

Oswin quickly arched her neck and prodded at the girl with her pink muzzle to guide Rosalina around her side where she’d be behind Oswin and therefore allow Oswin to place herself in between Siren and Rosalina. A pointed exchange, even if Siren had clearly allowed it to happen, which only grated Oswin’s nerves further.

“If you ever so much as bare your teeth at another member of the Ridge, I will drive you from this island for good.”

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.