What a wonderfully strange feeling it was to be missed. Aadhira did not know what it meant, never given the option before. The only who’d known him was Aarushi and as they were never apart, they never needed to miss one another. But the time spent away from the islands taught Aadhira what it meant to miss someone for the first time in his life… and now to think Priya had felt the same, but about him in specific? How could something make him happy that also made him sad? How could regret become touched by joy?

Little time was given to process this strange new revelation, for a word fell from Priya’s lips he’d been both hopeful to hear and somewhat afraid to hear, too.

The brown eyes on her turned wary. Immediately he glanced at her haunches as if he’d suddenly see a spindly-legged foal with curved ears tucked against her he’d somehow missed. Yet Priya was alone. No child was tucked against her. A normal thought would be the foal might be off with other foals of the herd, or perhaps with a mare designated as a caretaker.

Aadhira had a life which was unconventional and built for thinking of the negatives before considering any positives. He looked at Priya and his expression softened. Whatever ill fate had befallen her was his fault, this he knew. It wasn’t fair she needed be affected by it, too… nor was it fair she’d been affected while alone.

Tentatively – as if he were afraid of rejection – he reached out, his muzzle lingering just inches from where he’d touch her in comfort. He lost courage, tucking back, his worried eyes hanging over her. “I should have left with you that day.” His accent was strong, but his words were clearer than ever. “I should not have waited for my sister.” Blaspheme, he spoke, but everything was true. He would abandon his sister – his judwhi. The Gods would strike him for even thinking it and curse his existence for saying it.

But he had been cursed since he took his first breath, so this was nothing new.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” He concluded quietly, expression soft as he watched her.