Falls

Qadir shifted awkwardly in the water, trying to warm his joints. It had felt wonderful to immerse his body in such a large amount of water at first, but he didn't take long to cool down. Still, he had no plans to moves onto dry land. He wasn't willing to leave the mare's pleasant company yet. "How unfortunate," he sympathized. "I have heard elemental parents are far more interesting than normal ones. But I suppose that's only if one believes the stories are true." He grinned mischievously, as if daring her to claim they weren't.

His playful mood fled at her next words. "Ah, where? Here?" he asked. He wasn't sure if his muddled mind missed some pertinent information or if his lack of familiarity with the islands restrained him from understanding. Either way, the description of its winter sent shivers down his spine, to think of a place so horribly cold and dark for an entire season. Or perhaps longer? Qadir shook his dark mane as if to rid himself of the unpleasant thought. "It seems it could only be loved by those born there," he remarked. It wasn't too different from his own experiences, once he considered it. He had no doubt the mare would balk at the description of his old home just as he had at hers.

He could only hope if there was place as bleak as the one the grey mare described, its opposite would be somewhere nearby as well. He wanted to explore new areas and settle somewhere different from his desert. Still, he would gladly take comfort in knowing he could easily survive in at least one area of these islands. He supposed it would be easy to survive in the area he occupied now, but where was the fun in that? Does one truly survive when there are no elements to brave?

He turned his attention back to the mare again, hoping his wandering mind did not offend her. He smiled to see she looked just as guilty. "I am Qadir." He hadn't heard of a name like hers before, but he welcomed the strangeness of it. With new discoveries came adventures and experiences he still had yet to encounter.