Gnome felt more at peace now than he had in a long time. Kendry wasn’t who he’d come looking for, this was true, but the companionship they’d shared in a few short moments had lifted his spirits tremendously. It was odd how he’d felt like such a stranger in his own former home. Yes, he was not in the Prairie, but even the largest isle felt different somehow. Perhaps he’d been naïve his first time around, but he didn’t remember everyone being so ready to leap at each other’s throats. His conversation with Kendry was the first in what felt like ages that wasn’t fraught with tension.

Gnome was a little surprised that Kendry seemed so nonchalant about not finding his mother where he expected her to be. It was fear of this exact scenario that had kept him from rushing to the Prairie in search of Lilika. He looked over at the cream colored stallion and shifted his hooves on the wet sand, unsure what to say. He was typically fairly good at offering words of comfort, but this topic hit such a nerve with him that he was at a loss. Thankfully, Kendry continued after a moment.

He sighed, a fine mist spraying from his wet nostrils. ”I do know. I hope you hear word of her someday soon.” He hesitated, then continued, ”Your mother and I…we were never romantic, but I did care for her. And for you. I always wondered about you both and hoped you stayed safe after I left.” This was true, of course. His herd had been small enough that he’d felt a rather close bond with them all. Marlena and Kendry were not the only ones he’d fretted over.

Gnome followed Kendry’s gesture to the land that stretched before them. It was his turn to snort a laugh. ”Well, I’ve been gone from the islands for a long time, too. Chasing a woman, of all things. I came back to look for her, and got claimed by a mare, if you could believe it.” He looked over at Kendry with a wry smile. ”I had to live on Tinuvel, in the winter.” His gaze returned to the tropical trees and sand. ”She sent me here for some reason, and…well, I haven’t made it back to the Prairie yet. Too afraid of what I won’t find, I suppose.”

Staring out at the rain, which was finally starting to ease up, he internally berated himself. Here he’d been so overjoyed at a friendly companion, and now he’d gone and dampened the mood. He shook his head slightly. ”I’m sorry, you don’t need my sob story. Paradise is obviously a beautiful place. But it’s not home, I’m sure you understand the feeling.”

Gnome