The air was growing colder yet. Oswin sighed, glancing up at the tall peak and nearly growing dizzy as she tried to study the top. As the weather grew more treacherous she found herself occupying the foothills before the Peak rather than risking the constant climb up the narrow path. She gorged herself on the last of the vegetation, knowing it would be difficult enough to find nourishment come winter and also knowing the slight swell to her belly (hardly noticeable for what it was) had nothing to do with the extra food she was eating. Guilt plagued her and anger festered inside her, not for the child itself (no, Oswin would love her child) but for the events which had made her conception possible.

Oswin had wanted to storm Salem’s beach and fight Koray for Nova, regardless of whether her sister wanted to come or no. She had wanted to lurk in the darkness and wait until Nova was alone so she might try and raid her from the Desert. She had even considered speaking with her more clever sisters to see if they might find a way to slip into the Desert, unnoticed, and sneak Nova away to freedom. But then the signs started and Oswin had known the truth. She was pregnant. High emotions and a fight with Koray led to a bizarre twist of events where she allowed him to cover her and though there had been nothing gentle or loving about them coming together (even after), she’d still allowed it to happen.

Now she was carrying his foal. If he saw the plump swell of her belly, he’d know, and Oswin couldn’t stand him holding it over her head and gloating when he saw her. She needed to free Nova from him, but she might need to wait until late spring to do so. Oswin sighed a hot, frustrated breath, stomping a front hoof and flicking her tail in irritation. At least if she didn’t act until late spring, Nova’s child would likely be old enough to make the swim to Crossing and away from Salem. Oswin actually softened slightly, thinking of her and her sister’s child and realizing in a strange turn of events, they’d be siblings too. Once Oswin actually confessed to Nova what had happened, that was.

Irritated by the thoughts circling around and around in her head, Oswin decided today wasn’t the day to linger around the foothills. She turned to head inland, but thought better of it as the brine of the sea lifted on the breeze and rustled her mane. Blinking, Oswin glanced toward the far distant shoreline and almost immediately her mind was made up, turning her instead to follow the shoreline until she could come across the bachelor’s Lagoon.

The thick, musky scent of stallions caused her to snort as if trying to expel it from her noise. It sat heavy here, almost as heavy as the smell of mud and brine and still water. Just as the Peak seemed so fitting a place for her sisters, the Lagoon seemed quite fitting for the island’s bachelors. Oswin kept her guard up as she moved and her heart beat hard and fast in her chest, adrenaline beginning to course through her veins. She felt alive and no longer stuck on the thoughts that had been driving her mad the past month. She felt in control of herself.

It would only be a matter of time before she moved too near one of the stallions and he caught sight of a lone female wandering the edges of their Lagoon – especially painted as she was in gold and white. Oswin didn’t exactly blend in, after all. Oswin kept moving and decided she’d let them come to her, a bit of a grin curving the edge of her lips.

oswin
this is as brave as I know how to be.
I know it’s gonna hurt you, but please… be a little proud of me.