Mariael considered the changes the Bay had overcome, which were rather miniscule compared to the past dramatics they’d endured and smiled. “The Bay’s well,” she started, “our neighbor has vanished again but to tell you the truth, I’ve been alone on Tinuvel long enough with only my family, I’m not entirely bothered.” Tinuvel wasn’t for every horse, Mariael knew this. It was why she didn’t recruit every horse she crossed paths with. Some were simply not build to handle such harsh, long, dark winters.
“But my brother’s mare had his daughter,” here she smiled. Proud. “It’s nice to see the family lineage continue.” Mariael herself had yet to consider children – well, she knew one day she’d need to be a mother, to teach them to run the Bay when she was too old and weak to do so herself. That day would come in time… for now she was happy to step back and watch her brother stumble about as he learned everything raising foals entailed.
As to the question of Luthien, Mariael paused. “Well, I had business in Salem,” she started, glancing at the bursting of trees, “but actually… not only did I want to see your home, my father was actually born here.” She paused for a moment. “My father died a couple years ago but I was unable to recover his body, and every year when winter approaches I find myself maddened by the lack of closure.” She shook her head as if dismissing the heaviness of the words – her personal problems were not those of her ally. “I found myself drawn here.”
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