a new world hangs outside the window
beautiful and strange
it must be I've fallen awake
I must be

Suddenly, Wasp was bright and alert. Her bruised muscles and sore joints seemingly disappeared as she stared in the faces of Persephone and Cherish, friends she hadn't seen in a long time. The stout, dark mare couldn't wipe the smile from her face. It felt so good to be in the company of horses she knew - mares she trusted and who had gone out of their way to be friendly to her, over the years. Even if both were mostly just acquaintances, Wasp would take it. She needed this right now.

Her tail buzzed back and forth over her rump excitedly as she listened to both Cherish and Persephone. "You know, I wasn't sure what I'd find on Luthien." Wasp said, her amber eyes nearly twinkling with warmth. "But I am so glad I came here. I should have come sooner!" She explained with the bob of her head. Her ears flicked forward and back as Cherish asked about her new title that came with her responsibility in the Peak. She bobbed her head again in response. She felt a sharp tinge of pain in her ailing shoulder then - a stark reminder of Cullen's wrath. "Yes I am. I fight the bad guys in the Lagoon." She said with a sly smile.

But before Wasp could answer any more questions, like how Cherish ended up in the Forest, another horse was coming into view. Wasp focused on her petite frame and a chill ran down the length of her spine. It was her. She could feel herself holding her breath, but couldn't will herself to exhale. Not until her dam physically touched her, pressing chest-to-chest, as her much smaller mother wrapped her head around to her withers. Wasp finally snapped out of it, exhaling before gasping for air as the tears finally welled enough to spill down her cheeks. "God dammnit, I thought you were dead." She said in between sobs. After a long embrace, Macabre took a few steps back, where Wasp was able to see that her mother was crying, too. "Gosh, stop crying or else I won't be able to stop." She said over a half-chuckle, half-sob. "I love you so much, mom."

Wasp smiled sweetly to Cherish and Persphone who hung in the background. "There's so much to tell you. So much has happened." Macabre said as Wasp began to look her over. New scars littered her mother's coat too. Wasp had so many questions. How did they get out? How long have they been here in the Forest? But Macabre tried to keep her daughter's attention at hand. She knew she had much to explain, like about Ruger and Barcardi. But first, they needed to get back to the Peak. "I will tell you everything, I promise." Macabre said with a curt nod. The smaller chestnut mare then turned to Cherish and Persephone and nickered warmly. "But it's about time we all returned home, don't you think?"

Macabre would forever be indebted to Persephone for her kindness during these troubling times. Despite how hard it was for her to physically pull herself away from her daughter, Macabre did so now, pivoting to face the roan mare who lead the Forest. "I'm afraid our dark times are just beginning, my friend." She said solemnly to her. "I hope you know the Peak will always be at your aid, should you ever need us."

W A S P