Avangeline walked inland, saltwater dappling the ground below her as she moved. A slight frown of thought had overcome her expression, pulled deep in her mind after the swim from Salem. She worried over Gabbar and hoped he was okay. Though she’d only lived in his home for a short time, Avangeline had grown attached to the bay Arabian, and it was an attachment that hadn’t faded with time. Her thoughts turned to where she and Al-Hattaal should venture next. They had no idea where Iftikhar had lived and where she may have given birth to a potential foal.
Luthien, perhaps? Atlantis? Avangeline couldn’t see a hot-blooded mare such as Iftikhar, used to the sands of an endless desert, seeking shelter on Tinuvel, but they could look there just to be certain. A shiver crawled over her as the late autumn wind caressed her still damp coat and she pulled to a stop, turning her long neck to share her thoughts with Al-Hattaal.
As she glanced toward him, she caught sight of a bay figure in the distance, sleek, body dipped in a characteristic build and face dished. Avangeline went rigid, head jerking upright in alertness and ears swinging forward. She barely breathed, peering closer toward the distant figure and wondering if such luck could have befallen them.
“It can’t be…” she whispered, but her heart slammed hard in her chest and a smile broke out across her face. “Gabbar!” She cried, certainly loud enough the bay would hear her, and looked toward Al-Hattaal in excitement. “That’s Gabbar!” Her smile was so wide it nearly ached, but there wasn’t a chance for it to fall as she started forward, nearly stumbling in her excitement to jump into a quick pace and close the distance between she and Gabbar as fast as she could. A happy, rumbling nicker left her as she came close, brown eyes bright and ears perked. “Oh, it’s so good to see you again Gabbar!” Avangeline was so relieved to see him, she forgot she was supposed to feel ashamed for having left in the first place.
She itched to reach out and bump her muzzle over his skin, but managed to hold herself in check and settled for prancing impatiently in place. She glanced over her shoulder toward Al-Hattaal and smiled, turning back to look at Gabbar. “Gabbar, this is Al-Hattaal. Al-Hattaal, this is Gabbar.”
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