Yes, Pilar had done some exploring before she eventually found herself here in the Ridge. She believed initially that she might be disobeying Kasabian by wandering about the Islands like a gull taken by the ocean breeze, but when she did finally arrive to no ill will whatsoever, Pilar had learned that despite what she had first thought, she could come and go as she pleased. This was of course, great news to Pilar. To wander about and fraternize with whoever piqued her interest the most was quite the ideal situation. She felt empowered and invincible, armed with knowledge of who ruled what island and what they each were called. From Soljor in the Bay to Şahin (and Dia too!) in the Paradise, the more she knew, the more she wanted to explore the rest of the islands. Magnus and Ikari had spoken of the Forest, and she wanted to go there too, and to the mysterious island to Atlantis’s south that for some reason, no one ever seemed to mention. Pilar wanted to know why.

“Indeed!” Pilar grinned deviously as she drew alongside Kasabian, who revealed to her that he knew she had beaten him to the punch in investigating the Paradise. She was not surprised that he had figured this out—in fact she would have been more surprised if he hadn’t.

“I have a friend who lives there—Dia,” Pilar continues as she walked along the buckskin stallion. “And I would very much like to see how she is doing with her new foal.”

Pilar loved children—they were usually as free-spirited as she, and great fun to play with. The Marwari girl had many fond memories of frolicking with the new foals every spring and summer in her old herd. They looked up to her and listened to her stories, even if she was only repeating what tales her grandmother had told her most of the time.

“I’m doing well Kasabian, thanks for asking!” Pilar then let her eyes wander to Kasabian’s lame leg, and decides to voice her curiosity. “How’s your leg? Is it ever going to heal?” She hoped he wouldn’t mind her question. After all, she didn’t want to upset him, or bring back any frightening memories. Pilar simply wanted to understand what could happen to a leg that made it stay injured for such a great length of time.


pilar

photo © Sally Mann