The young stallion started in surprise when another horse appeared coming down the hills. At first he was concerned it was the hulking mass of Vodnik, ready to race beat him away from the thought of approaching the ridge. To his intense relief, it was mare. She still held the strong features of a draft, though her body was considerably smaller than that of the opposing stallion. His body straightened and face turned to her to greet her when the odd words came from her mouth. The young stallion blinked in confusion but smiled, thinking she was a creature from a different place, excited by the opportunity to learn of a new land. She had shifted her words and his face fell slightly.

Macabre. He had missed her, and had lost her. This strange mare had no idea how correct she had been in her question. He was missing many things he had lost and the list seemed to trail on now that she had brought it up. Once more he had begun to answer her when sounds of bodies running through the forest’s underbrush cut him off. Among the sweet scents of the foliage around them came something even sweeter to his nose. Ailill’s head whipped aroundto have his eyes lock onto her. The mare he had run into under the dazzling light of the falls. She was just as stunning and beautiful as she had been that day. Covered in twigs, leaves, and dirt she was a creature of the earth and the spirits that walked it. His heart clenched at the stunning sight of her. He was left breathless, and thoughtless when she who he had been seeking also came crashing into the clearing. Light eyes fell on Macabre and danced with the pleasure of seeing her again, though his heart sank with sadness and the rip in his ear twinged in the phantom memory of a bite.

No thought or fear of what could befall him from his foolish actions, the young stallion stepped forward and pressed his nose lightly against Macabre’s shoulder, if only to assure himself she was still whole. Once his thoughts caught up with him he turned back to Rowena, still speechless at finding her again, and so close. It’s you… He breathed, finally able to find his voice before losing it again. The boy had no idea what to say to her. All he wished was to bring her to his home, walk with her through the trails, tell her the tales of the faces that looked out at them from the mountains’ cliffs. But as his nose slowly extended towards her he could smell the Ridge, he could smell Vodnik, and suddenly the realization hit him. All these mares were residents of the Ridge. All of them were under Vodnik’s rule. With a frustrated stamp of his hoof he looked back at Dracaena. Yes, I am missing something I lost. Bright eyes looked back to Macabre before falling and staying on Rowena. Many somethings. He snorted helplessly, troubled and unnerved by Macabre’s worries and fears. You can stay here. This is free land. He glared harshly in the direction of the ridge that cast a shadow over Paradise. And you can come with me. Now his gaze shifted to Drcaena only to be pulled and locked once more on Rowena, always drawn to her. You don’t need to stay, you can come to Paradise. All of them could, except for Macabre. He had to admit, Vodnik ‘owned’ her fair and square.