We were drawn to whoever could keep us together
And bound by the heavens above
Alessandro stood before his sister, completely at ease. There were so many things about this place that he hadn’t even realised he had missed until now – the cool, salty wind coming off the sea, the sight of the dunes giving way to scrub, and the mountains rising from the ground further inland. There was much he had missed about Mariael too. Her diligence. Her unshakable love for her family. She was, perhaps, the strongest mare he knew, and that in itself was something of great worth in Alessandro’s eyes. Sai was soft, except where Dances was concerned, and Tigerlily… She was wild, strong in her own kind of way. He would never say the words aloud, but Alessandro worried for his younger sister. And it was a burden upon his shoulders that he didn’t know how to help her.
But he could help Mariael, and Maziel, and Zevulun. He would do anything for them.
“I’m glad they’re both well,” he rumbled, a smile twitching at the corners of his lips. And he laughed at the way Mariael described them, filled with joy at the news that he was an uncle. He remembered what the two of them had been like, and hearing that they were both happy and flourishing, it filled Alessandro with a deep sense of satisfaction. “Jude pined for home something awful,” Alessandro explained, snorting in amusement. “He’ll be so happy to see Maziel and Zevu again, and to be an uncle too – he’s going to love that.” A sudden urge to look behind for traces of his brother and sister returning almost pulled him away, but he stayed put, doing his best not to fret. If anything happened…
Mariael approached, and Alessandro leaned into her touch, and held her gaze, nodding at her words in agreement. She was right – he could do nothing to change the past, but he was here now, and it was clear that Mariael was grateful, and harboured no ill feelings towards him. Her confidence, and her strength, these things both served as a kind of light to Alessandro, and something whimsical within him believed it had been Mariael that had led them all home.
He listened as his sister spoke again, and in his mind he was a cot again, exploring the Bay with all the curiosity of a child, marvelling at every new sight that greeted him, and filled with wonder that in the centre of a land so cold was a place of warmth and shelter, caves that were moist and steamy. He remembered sleeping there when the nights grew bitterly frigid. Those had been the days, when both of his parents had been close by, watching over him, and he’d had nothing to fear, for he was so loved.
Monarchy? Alessandro flicked a speckled ear in pleasant surprise and bobbed his head in excitement. He stepped forwards and pressed his muzzle to Mariael’s shoulder, blue eyes shining brightly. “I’m happy, for you and for the rest of us.” It wouldn’t be the same for their family, not if someone of foreign blood was ruling over their homeland. “Dances said that you were doing well here,” Alessandro continued, though mentioning Dances again… There had been many other things that the painted stallion had told Dro and his siblings. “I always knew you would become a great leader one day. You know what you want and aren’t afraid to fight for it, aren’t afraid to defend it. That’s something to be admired,” Alessandro smiled and dipped his head, filled with respect for his sister. And then, Mariael had him snorting with amusement again when she spoe of the new leader of the Inlet. It saddened him a little, however, that many out there would look at Mariael and not see her the same way he did. She was just as capable as any stallion Alessandro knew, if not more so.
Secretly he hoped Mariael would have the chance to show this newcomer just how strong and magnificent she was. Perhaps Alessandro would make the effort to trek across the island, just so he could be there to witness such a thing.
“Me? I’ve been holding up alright. And Jude, as I mentioned, was eager to return, so it was difficult for him being on the mainland. We missed home,” he admitted again, and thought for a moment, if he should bring up his mother, and Dances. Neither of them had fared too well, and they had both been a little thin and restless when Alessandro had parted ways with them. But, he felt the anxiety tightening its hold on his chest. If only he could be stronger, and not spend half his life worrying… “We’re back now, though, that’s all that matters,” he said with a tired smile, echoing Mariael’s own words.
And just then, a filly came bounding up, and Alessandro’s smile only broadened at the sight of the warm exchange between the filly and Mariael. “Hey there, Izizel. I’m very glad to meet you,” he stretched his muzzle towards her, intended to snuffle at her growing mane. “Your other uncle, Jude, is going to be so excited to meet you!” He glanced up at Mariael, and held her gaze for a few moments. He didn’t want to keep her too long from the rest of the herd, and though there was still much he had to say to her, now was not the time. “How ‘bout you show me around Izizel? It’s been a little while since I was here, but I remember a small cave that made your voice sound really loud when you spoke in there. Have you found that one yet? ” Already he felt affection for her, and some kind of familial bond. If only Jude was back already, and Lily too… Dro shook his mane and flared his darkened nostrils, glancing to Mariael once more before giving Izzy his undivided attention.
A L E S S A N D R O
And we tried to survive traveling at the speed of love
|