The mare waits patiently for the stallion to appear, though the same cannot be said for the newborn bouncing in circles around her. She still feels a flash of pain inside her on occasion and having to constantly maneuver to keep an eye on the boy hasn’t helped. Silicon has finally joined them, though her stance gives the impression that she’s oblivious to her family’s presence.

Santiago has not yet asked about his sister’s mental distance, much to Selenium’s relief because she wouldn’t know how to explain it to him. The prospect of meeting his father has kept her son sufficiently distracted.

Finally, just when she thinks she’ll have to snap at the colt again, Ernesto materializes through the undergrowth. Santiago comes to a skidding halt, his tiny jaw dropping at the sight of the stallion. Selenium had told him that he looks very like his father, though the patterns overlaid atop his sooty gold pelt had come from her. Seeing father and son side by side, the mare’s heart warms. Not having seen Ernesto in so long, she couldn’t tell until now that Santiago’s coat is the exact same shade of gold as his father’s, though the sooty areas are arranged differently.

Her family is together again and she sighs contently, letting her nose touch Ernesto’s and going a step farther to brush against his neck. Her son has remained strangely quiet and she looks down at him, only to see him staring at his father with wide eyes. Her dark blue and white head reaches down to nudge his sooty rump. The colt startles slightly, whipping his head around, eyes still wide. Amusement rises in Selenium’s chest at his sudden hesitation.

She pulls her head back up, blue eyes sparkling. ”This is the quietest he’s been since he was born,” she teases.

Just as she’d expected, the newborn puffs out his little chest, squeaking indignantly, ”Am not!” She’d known he would rise to the bait – contradicting her is one of his favorite games. Still, it has snapped him out of his trance. He looks at his father with the same awe, though now he appears more composed. ”Daddy,” he breathes, the mere word making him quiver with excitement. Then he clears his throat and announces, ”My name is Santiago.”

Selenium is impressed with the boy’s restraint, having a feeling that he’s been dying to talk Ernesto’s ear off as he’s done hers. They’ll have a lifetime to talk, of course, but she can only imagine how overwhelmed Santiago must be feeling right now.