Şahin returned to Paradise in a good mood. He felt rejuvenated from his time on the Crossing, and it showed in the cant of his head and the brisk gait he used to carry himself across the flat, grassy land he called home. Yes, his home was empty. Yes, his friend was missing. Yes, he had no one on the islands to call friend or family any longer— but he was alive and whole, energetic and capable, and he had a territory to call his own. Şahin had much to be grateful for.

In the back of his mind, he knew he would lose his elation and become discouraged by the lack of company in his home, but for now the blanketed palomino felt like he could fly as high as his namesake. He stretched his legs and switched to a gallop. It felt good to run, and he let his mind empty itself as he immersed himself fully in the sensation of his muscles working as the air buffeted his skin.

It was another voice in the air that pulled him from his physical focus and slowed his run to a trot as he located the source of it. Once he was confident in the direction the call came from, Şahin headed toward it at an easy jog. He hadn’t expected anyone to call on him in his home, but it was a pleasant surprise. The palomino welcomed almost any sort of company.

He came upon a stallion and a couple of mares. The male was incredibly pale, while one mare was slightly darker and the next boasted a black coat. All three wore big splotches of white, and he assumed them to be related in some way. “Hello!” he called as he slowed and finally stopped near the three horses. “Welcome to Paradise. I’m Şahin,” he introduced himself and extended his nose toward each horse in turn to exchange breaths with them.