It wasn’t often Maziel was alone. Since the day of her birth she had never been far from the side of her sister, Mariael. Now, Mariael was leader of the Bay and self-proclaimed queen. Her sister had far more duties to tend to, particularly with the quick approach of winter and the impossibility of traveling from the island without risking one’s life. Maziel didn’t mind the time to herself and never strayed too far from her father, she knew if he were to lose sense of her he would come crashing through to find her again.

In some ways she was thankful for the protectiveness her father and sister showed her; in some ways she wished they would allow her the freedom to move as she pleased. Maziel had never been overcome by jealousy and often talked herself away from any ugly emotion daring to fester within her, but some days were harder than others. If she thought how unfair it was Mariael could swim from island to island without anyone being worried, she tried to remind herself Mariael was lead and it was a necessity for the Bay. If she thought how unfair it was her father could wander about without anyone trailing him, she tried to remind herself he was of the guard and needed to travel great distances along the borders to be certain their home remained unmolested by strangers.

She trailed the path through the trees that day, knowing her father (and likely Rohanne) were only a small distance away through the brush, likely grazing in an attempt to fatten up before the weather turned harsh. Maziel nibbled here and there as she came across thin, wispy stalks of grass, but she didn’t linger in one spot for too long. Instead she listened to the quiet sounds of her birth home and let her mind wander.

Then, she heard it. Maziel froze in step, head shooting upright like a startled doe’s might. Her ears twitched and she exhaled and inhaled sharply, attempting to use all her senses (spare the one she’d never had) to gauge what she’d heard. Again… she heard it. Steps. Light steps, small steps. Someone was walking through the forest of the Bay and it didn’t sound similar to the footfalls Maziel knew. A soft, calling nicker rumbled from her mouth and her ear swiveled, pinpointing the exact direction the traveler was walking.

“Hello?” She said once she was certain she’d caught the direction, turning and taking a few careful steps forward.