Night had fallen over the dunes, and with it, so had the temperature. Olaf had made his patrol around the herd as they settled to graze and doze in a more pleasant climate than it was during the day. As the smoky stallion returned to watch over the herd, he noticed the pale maned chestnut with the dished face had slipped away. Stamping his hoof into the sand with annoyance, he pivoted and took off in the direction of her scent and followed her hoof prints toward the border of the dunes. He’d be damned if he’d let her disappear back into the sands she’s come from.

He spotted her up ahead, standing on the crest of a dune before disappearing over the other side of it. His dipped his head down in determination, letting the desert air pass over him as he galloped after her. Voices carried to his ears but he could not make out what Ai’dah was saying to the other, clearly feminine horse. As he reached the top of the dune where the chestnut had disappeared over the other side, he caught side of her and another, who was also chestnut. His attention did not linger on the pair however, as his gaze fell on buckskin stallion approach.

Flicking his ears back angrily, Olaf descended the dune, hoofs sliding awkwardly in the shifting sand, and insert himself before the stallion and the mare. He hadn’t bothered to check who the unknown mare belonged but she got caught between them as he sought to keep this rival stallion from taking Ai’dah away. He forced his muzzle toward the other stallion and pawed at the air between them. ”Why are you here?” He demanded.