Time and time again the mare had approached the shoreline. The safety the Peak offered was not enough to keep her calm and content within its borders. Not now. Of course it was too early to be certain, when she had never brought another life into the world before it was all as new to her as it could be. But as the realisation had sunken in of the time they had spent together before he was forced away to his own shores the belief had grown with each day. A small thrill had shot through her at the first thought before it was swiftly chased away by the fears that followed. A child. How could she possibly give such a fragile little life the protection it needed. When her gilded hide showed the marks of her own struggles over the years, how could her heart not break at the thought of harm ever coming to a child of hers because she could not watch over it. Though the knowledge of the Peaks safety was there, even now she felt it was not for her to take. But it was not the only reason she returned to the salty waters.

She could not use it as an excuse. Not her feelings of the Peak nor the fears for the possible life forming within her. Even before her heart and mind and conscience battled with one another. Each day she had turned her head to the winds, breathing the cold air with a twist of hope, listening keenly to the whispers they carried from across the lands. But each day passed without his presence returning. Over and over the masculine tones were replayed in her mind, an ache growing within her to hear them next to her once again. Not since her youth had she come to miss another’s presence so much. But still she lingered, thoughts spiralling about with a growing weight settling upon her mind.

More days and still he did not appear, and the growing chill in the air was like a jab in the ribs each time she drew a breath. She could wait no longer. Perhaps some time still remained in which he could travel safely, but the sounds of restless waves crashing against the shores drove her forwards. It was not a journey the near blind mare had relished the first time she had emerged from the waters, and all the more now her heart leapt in fright. The cold gripped her instantly, soaked the moment her long dark limbs felt the sandy ground vanish away. Fool! Within minutes she realised her idiocy. It was one thing to risk herself to the oceans waves and currently. Quite another to risk the life within her. But she could not turn for fear the direction she had been pointed out once would be lost to her, that she might not return to where she had left nor end up where she aimed for. The salty tang filled her nose, and eyes squeezed closed against the sting. She could not see beyond a dark blur all about her anyway. All she could do was push on. And hope.

When the sea finally released her from its grasp her sandy sides quivered in exhaustion and cold. Head hung low simply relishing the feeling of firm ground beneath her for a time before slowly her neck lifted, shaking her head tiredly as she attempted to breath any scent beyond the sea which filled her nostrils. Had she done it? Ears twitched nervously, shivering on the edge of the waters, praying she would not have to return to them. Was he there? Or had the ocean currents turned her all around. A soft breathy call bubbled up from her vocals. A fool. Yes she certainly was a fool. A more stupid thing she had never undertaken before. What if he was not here? Though the air smelled of him she was beginning to notice. Or more, it was what he smelt of. The clean cool winds, the bitter bit of cold they send through her dripping coat to her bones. Please be here.