Marlena had not been living in the Ridge long, but what little time she had spent here she had enjoyed thoroughly. She had yet to meet her fellow herd mates, having only seen the other horses in passing, but even so she had been content so far to soak up her new home by herself.

Atlantis was a beautiful island, and even as the seasons passed into autumn the temperature remained pleasantly warm with a refreshing sea breeze. She was soaking it in again that morning as she wandered the rocky hills, her pale gold figure meandering slowly along the peaceful horizon.

She was lost in her own thoughts as she paced lazily along, pondering about the places she had been and the places she had yet to go, and also about what Kendry was doing and whether he had settled into the Lagoon. She worried about him all the time, even though she knew that she didn’t really need to.

Marlena was so preoccupied with her own mind that she didn’t notice Kasabian appearing from the treeline until she was almost about to walk past him. Looking up with her bright blue eyes, however, she caught sight of him and offered a warm nicker in welcome as she altered her course to head over to him and say hello.

She wondered where he had been so early in the day.

“Kasabian!” she said warmly, offering her nose to bump gently in greeting. “Welcome home. I trust you haven’t been getting into too much trouble while you were away.”

She grinned playfully.

CLYDESDALE MIX / SMOKY CREAM & BIRDCATCHER SPOTS / 18.0HH