“Well, thank you,” he replied with an easy laugh. It was difficult not to appreciate the beauty of Paradise: it always looked warm and inviting, even when it was empty. Şahin was glad he’d come across it, although he was sorry that Kuş was not there to share it with him. He wished her well in silence and forced his attention back to his guest. “It is,” he said. “When the moon is full, anyway. It’s very pretty. I prefer the sun, though, and sleep. I’m not usually awake to see it,” he said with a laugh.

There were few things Şahin appreciated as much as a healthy amount of sleep. Late-night walks were not his favorite thing, as he preferred the vibrant wakefulness that the sun brought. Night was so quiet, too. Şahin gave his head a shake and pointed his ears at the pale mare. “I suppose,” he said. “There’s not much else to see. Here we have the beach, as you know,” he continued, stepping out of the ocean entirely and gesturing with his nose down the stretch of sand that acted as the doorway of his home. “And behind us,” he said as he turned, “is the gently rolling field that stretches all the way to the other end of the island. There are palm trees here and further in. The main attraction here seems to be the climate,” Şahin added. “That’s why I’m here.”

He gave his drying body a shake to dispel the rest of the water that clung to his shiny fur and sighed contentedly. “So. What really brings you to Paradise, miss? It’s not often that I get visitors, especially not someone as pretty as you.” He grinned as he spoke, ears up and head held at a comfortable angle as he waited to see how his flirting would be received. Şahin missed company of all sorts, and if flattery would keep the mare around for a little longer, he wouldn’t hesitate to use it for his own gain. It was a win-win, provided his plan didn’t backfire and she took offense at it or, worse, read too far into his words.