FireSail. Nephilim had lived for a year on Crossing Isle and thus, knew how to eavesdrop on multiple conversations in order to gather information which spanned across the five islands. FireSail was not a name he had heard before though it was possible the stallion had come to be during the year Nephilim was gone. He might have commented on having not met her father or let the comment slide by the wayside completely, but Nephilim noticed the changes in Starfire’s body language and voice and it took precedent over his previous thoughts.

A concerned frown eclipsed his brow as she spoke of falling into a rushing river. Nephilim knew too well the fright of falling into a current too strong and being unable to swim clear of it. Just under a year prior his blind daughter, Maziel, had been swept into the angry, storm riddled ocean and was being pulled away from the islands and toward the open sea, unable to swim against the turbulent current. Nephilim had surged into the storm waters after her, convinced with desperation he could reach his daughter’s side, but he’d been pulled under by a powerful wave and tossed around as if he was nothing more than the water’s plaything.

Again, Nephilim might have spoken and expressed his condolences for a life lost and for the experience of waking up somewhere strange and alone, but Starfire spoke first, excusing herself from his presence. Nephilim nodded his head and spoke up before she could leave. “Safe travels, Starfire. If you ever need protection or somewhere to stay, you’re welcome here at the Bay.”

When she was already a considerable distance away, just a vague shape of a horse moving toward the horizon, Mariael stepped from the forest and came to stand by her father’s side. She frowned. “Who was that?”

“A wayward stranger who’s trying to find her way. I offered her protection, should she ever come back.” His gold eyes flicked to Mariael and looked at her, his daughter. A small smile crept up the corners of his mouth, watching her as she watched the disappearance of the buckskin mare. He was proud of his daughter, even if their relationship had been tense at best over the last year. Perhaps they were finally returning to the close relationship they’d had before they left the islands.

“Dad, stop staring at me. It’s weird.”