The humidity was almost stifling to one not accustom to it. It sat thick and heavy in the warm air even as gray clouds gathered in a sky that was normally colored the prettiest blue. The clouds kept the shine of the sun away and cast the world in a dreary dullness but even then, even with the sun taken away, Tarrant thought Atlantis was the most beautiful island he’d ever seen. A content sigh rolled from his mouth as his creamy white tail twitched at his hindquarters. Turning his ears forward he put his pink muzzle toward the sky, letting his green eyes survey the look of the clouds. Far off the shore he could see where the rain had begun to fall and knew, within the hour, rain would be falling onto Paradise as well.

Turning from the shoreline he climbed up the sandy dunes, went past the beach grass that played at his hooves, and made for the explosion of greens that was the jungle. Everywhere his eyes turned he saw color – from bright Atlantis flowers to curious birds fluttering their feathers as they took shelter beneath the treetop canopy. His heartbeat was steady in his chest, his body relaxed.

Yet today was not a day to simply mull about without purpose. In spite of the coming rain he knew there was someone he had to find today. She’d requested his company and there was no reason to deny her. She had remembered him by name but, unfortunately, Tarrant didn’t remember her. Maybe he was getting on in years. The stallion snorted, almost chuckling. Wonka would have liked to have tease him about that.

“Xina?” The stallion called out into the jungle as he walked, believing he had stumbled upon a recent scent and therefore must be somewhere near her. Xina, Xina, Xina… Maybe it was somewhat familiar. Tarrant frowned in hard concentration, trying to pull her up from the haze of memories in his mind.