Reliable as always, Liland answers her call. She can see the pain in his eyes as he looks upon his children. They've lost so much time together. All those months wasted over a petty argument. Zjeena thought she had come to terms with her time in Paradise, and learned to accept it without anger, but a fresh anger rises in her now. The situation cost all of them such precious family time. They've been robbed, and for nothing of consequence.
The twins greet their father with hesitation reading clear on both of their faces. Liland nuzzles them both in turn, and they halfheartedly return the gesture, exchanging unreadable glances between themselves. They each only have a vague memory of what their father looked like. They never had the chance to know him. Perhaps they'll have the chance to change that moving forward, but until then, he feels like no one more than a stranger.
Tears sting her eyes as Liland moves past the twins to greet her. Her gut twists with emotion, guilt among them. As angry as she was for all that's transpired, she feels horrible for what she's done. It's not Zjeena's fault. She was trapped on Atlantis with no apparent way out. Liland's choice to challenge for another mare and a territory while she remained captive felt a betrayal to her. They should be even, but her rash actions don't come without regrets. Part of her bred Rougaru out of love for Liland. it was their fastest ticket out of Paradise and back to the Bay with Liland, where they belong. But part of her bred Rougaru out of spite, and another part out of forbidden love for Rougaru. It is those parts she hates inside herself. If all of her motives were true, she might not feel this way, but not all of them were.
"Liland." Her voice cracks, and from there the tears begin to fall. She buries her face into the side of his neck. The warmth of his body so close, and his familiar smell are both a comfort and a torment. She sobs. Her whole body trembles. Normally such a strong mare, she crumbles now, and the pieces fall at Liland's feet.