Together the sisters grazed, nibbling at their fill of grass which was fed by snowmelt and rivers which flowed quick and full with cool, crisp water. It was a quiet day on the island and Mariael had opted to remain home as she’d been traveling quite a great deal to Crossing Isle and back. Maziel had accompanied her in an attempt to push away her fear of the ocean and she too, agreed rest was due for the pair. Her teeth clipped away the bittersweet grass and ground it, moving in slow strides forward and around in the clearing they’d decided to occupy.

Birds chirped, squirrels squabbled, and somewhere a few deer meandered their way through the inner islands forest, doing much the same as the girls were doing.

The quiet of the day was interrupted by a bellowing whinny which called swift through the trees. Mariael’s head shot upright, ears flicking and tail flagging at her hind. Maziel’s head was slower to rise but her ears twisted too, curiosity ever close to her heart. It had been a welcoming cry and not one of challenge, the sort which was meant to beckon someone close rather than make them feel as if an invasion was occurring. Both girls broke away from their quiet place to instead follow a small path worn down by hooves (both horse and deer) which eventually led them to…

“Samhain?” It was Maziel who recognized his scent first, and a smile broke wide across her mouth. She couldn’t believe he was here!

Samhain was the only foal the girls had met aside from each other and Maziel had taken to him quite fondly. Though Mariael was standoffish (as she always was initially), she was happy to see he was alive and well, too. Both girls had feared the worst when they came to find the Inlet was empty of its previous residents.

Maziel made her way forward until she could bump her velvet nose to his and exchange a breath before stretching her neck and offering him a friendly nuzzle to his neck. She stepped back as Mariael smiled politely (yes, actually smiled) and welcomingly. “Samhain,” she said, “it’s good to see you.”

Maziel smiled from her sister back to Samhain’s direction. “Where did you come from?” She’d noticed he smelled more of the brine of the sea than he did of Tinuvel and that made her quite curious.