“That was a good day,” he mumbled in agreement. It had probably been one of the lengthiest and most interesting conversations he’d ever had while on the Islands, and Şahin considered himself fortunate to have met the pretty Akhal-Teke during his time in the bachelor lands. While he himself had not had a difficult time in the Lagoon, he supposed things were different for the mares there. It must be stressful not being in a solid herd dynamic, knowing that only one or two specific stallions would be around all the time and that the mares in the territory were your permanent herd. Nothing about the Lagoon seemed permanent except for the insects.

He flicked his ear as he felt Dia’s breath on his forehead and cracked open the eye that wasn’t submerged to watch her. It was an interesting angle to say the least, looking up the long, pale nose of his friend and seeing the muscles of her face move beneath her skin. It felt nice and he closed his eye again. “Mm. It’s far too cold on Tinuvel. Did you live there for awhile?” he lifted his head out of the water and felt it drain from his ear. It was an uncomfortable feeling and he flipped his ear back and forth to soothe it. “Hard to imagine someone built for the sun and sands living in a place full of snow and ice.”

Although in today’s heat, Tinuvel actually sounded pretty alluring. He lifted himself upright and tossed his head, feeling the wet ends of his mane tickle his neck. “Come lay in the water,” he suggested, glancing back at her. “It’s cooler in here and then I don’t have to look up at you.” Şahin grinned before he splashed at the water near him with his nose in invitation.