Vita Nova felt light headed, and strangely out of breath, as the herd disbanded and Xiomara fled their shores.
She could feel her heart racing in her chest. Emotions were running high - she'd just fought a battle for Christ's sake, and was the newly minted leader of a whole terrain. She'd defied her king and kicked out her opponent. So much was happening so fast. Vita Nova could hardly keep up.
The ashen mare knew she couldn't evade Warsaw for long. Perhaps if he'd beaten Liland in battle, he would just disappear into the forest and head toward the Bay. But if not, maybe he'd seek her out. Maybe she should seek him out. But she wasn't sure what else she had left to say. Vita Nova still loved him, somewhere deep down. Part of her thought that maybe this was just part of their usual back-and-forth banter. They were always hot and then cold, and vice versa. But another part of her couldn't stand him. How could he just abandon her after everything they'd been through? After everything she'd sacrificed to be with him? After the promises he'd made for their sons? She could feel the anger bubbling up inside of her again.
Letavice followed briskly at his mother's heels, the sweet and sensitive child visibly shaking with emotion. She could barely bring herself to look at him, let alone Ironclad, after what had just transpired. Vita Nova couldn't help but feel abandoned by her entire family right now.
She walked until she reached the rumbling creek within the pine trees, and breathed a heavy sigh. Plumes of her exhales fled her nostrils as she tried to quiet her mind. Spring was coming soon. And this filly, with the onslaught of sharp pangs she shot through her dam's body, demanded to be known.
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