Maziel had grown silent as Mariael spoke of the mare in the Inlet. The looming shadow of threat which the mare provided made her gut turn and twist with uncertainty, but she fell silent and allowed her sister and Samhain to speak instead. Conflict frightened her and always had; she wished both Mariael and the mare, Jasiri, had been more capable of coming to a kind agreement as her father and Pagan had. The winds of Tinuvel were changing and Maziel hoped like the storms of winter, come spring the conflict might thaw and reveal a new, prettier world.

But where Maziel was dreaming of conflict resolution, Mariael held her head proudly high with her ears forward, listening as Samhain spoke and feeling a swell of emotions within her from the words he spoke. Samhain understood where she was coming from and why one should be so prideful of this island others may scoff against living at. They could have their endless fields of grass and temperate winters, Mariael thought, because she would much rather live in a place she felt she had to earn the right to do so. She nodded at his words, realizing until that point she hadn’t considered seeking alliances off of Tinuvel, but it may have been her only option, especially with Samhain living away.

Maziel smiled small at Samhain’s gentle touch, but her head was still low and she worried over the words spoken here and what they could mean. Involving other islands? Allies? She thought of her father’s surprise when Mariael had issued the challenge against Jasiri and again felt the unpleasant sensation of her stomach turning.

“You are always welcome here, Samhain, as is your sister.” Mariael echoed with firm decision in her voice. “When the weather calms during spring, Maziel and I will visit you in the Prairie.”

Maziel inhaled, flicking an ear toward Mariael. Their father had said not to go to the Prairie… what if this Shamwari was the one they were warned against?

Mariael noticed her sister’s reaction and even knew what inspired it (so close, it wasn’t too farfetched to think the girls often shared the same thoughts at the same time) but said nothing. This was concerning the future of their home and of protecting Tinuvel from invaders like Jasiri. Even if the large mare did not survive winter as Mariael vindictively hoped, there would always be another who came to the Inlet and it was likely they may be just as headstrong against the traditions of this island.

“Hopefully we can find an ally with Shamwari in the Prairie.” She paused, contemplating the other two islands. She knew little of Salem, but she knew one stallion that lived on Atlantis. Perhaps it was time to allow old wounds to heal so she might form bonds elsewhere.