As the tide pulled in and out with it’s endless rhythm, the numbers of the Bay’s herd swelled with numbers, declined as lives were tugged away, and swelled once more. Mariael was happy, though, to have two of her brothers returned to Tinuvel. It felt right. It was what Nephilim wanted and what Mariael tried to continue in his absence. Family. Home. They’d always have a place with one another.
As much as Mariael adored her family, there were other matters to attend to. Those who wished it could join Zevulun and her in patrolling the various areas she liked to keep a close eye on in the Bay. With winter slowly crawling to its approach and the weather in Tinuvel turning colder and colder yet, the Bay herd would need to retreat high into the mountains soon and Mariael would be damn sure if there were any predators lurking nearby they’d be driven out to somewhere much further away.
Then there was the matter of her new neighbor. Warsaw. Mariael had glanced toward the Inlet on occasion and wondered how much time was enough time for the stallion to wrap his head around a mare leading an island. If her opinion was asked, Mariael would say it was already too long. It took everything she had to not march into the Inlet and demand his loyalty, but Maziel continuously, gently asked her to grant him just a little more time and to not treat this situation as she had in her youth. Mariael resigned herself to listen to her sister’s counsel, but every day she took the inland trails near the Inlet she felt herself pulled toward it.
Even the faint idea he’d refuse her, giving her grounds to instigate a fight, excited her rather than turned her away. It’d been too long since Mariael had reason to battle.
Tinuvel’s queen, with her winter coat already grown comfortably thick, moved through her forest while her senses continued to pull her toward the Inlet. It was then she heard the call – too soft to be Warsaw – and frowned. Familiarity tingled at her mind as to who it was, but Mariael couldn’t be sure until she followed it, head raised and nostrils quivering.
“Persephone!” She exhaled with a happy breath, smile easy to come over her lips at the sight of the Forest queen and her ally… if not friend. “What’s brought you to Tinuvel when the weather’s growing colder by the day?” Mariael asked, frowning in curious thought.
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