this miracle god gave to me
gives me strength when I am weak
Ghostwood sniffed at the other filly inquisitively, moving slowly and cautiously as if trying not to scare the other girl since she had appeared a little uncertain of putting herself forwards in the first place. She breathed in the other girl’s scent as she had seen her mother do to other horses before, though she was not yet old enough to realise that this was for any useful purpose, and offered her a wide grin of greeting.
Ava smiled warmly as she watched the pair, her heart singing with joy in her chest. She had been so resigned to the fact that her daughter would never make it this far, that every tiny accomplishment Ghostwood made – no matter how small or insignificant – filled her with pride and happiness. She was perfect.
Her attention was only drawn away from them again when Nesrin spoke, joining her in calling Orhan over. She chuckled in hearty agreement at the mare’s comment and shared a knowing look with her before her bright green gaze slid back over to Orhan as he approached.
She watched him with affection written clearly across her expression. Orhan had shown her such kindness while she had been here – he had taken her in when she had no home, he had been kind to her when she brought strange men to him in his own territory, he had protected her after she had been attacked by Sandman, and now he housed her and her daughter without ever one complaining that she was not his or treating her differently because of it.
She owed him everything, and she was so grateful for him.
“Good morning,” she replied brightly, just as Ghostwood noticed his arrival and splashed towards him through the shallow water to butt her head against his legs with a playful squeal of greeting.
At the mention of Ghostwood’s beauty Ava dipped her gaze, though the smile on her lips widened. Though the compliment sounded harmless, it held an important meaning for her and when she thanked him she meant it for much more than his kind words.
He turned his attention to Nesrin and her daughter then, and Ava watched them cheerfully as the introductions were made. It felt such a pleasure to see such a happy moment first hand.
Life had too few of them, after all.
mother & daughter
of the desert