the way her body shivers, blood pounding madly in her veins, the hopeful lurch of her heart… she can see this reaction mirrored by his. the somber joy felt by both is clearly also tempered by a deep sadness at their loss. years of it. never before had bhaskara been so grateful for the few blurred memories of her father as she had been now, having shared them with the blood of her blood.

the red bay mare feels as though she is slowly coming back to her senses, coming to terms. she reaches down to wipe the happy tears on her foreleg, curved ears fixed on bahadir. she lets out a deep shuddering breath and collects herself, feeling strong enough to return his smile without weeping again. her voice is calmer now, without the embarrassing threat of cracking “i had all but given up. i can’t believe i’d been so close to giving up.

it was true. her quest to claim the desert had failed twice. her search for family had gone nowhere. she had been walking a thin line lately, uncertain of where and what would come next. there were days when she thought, perhaps this life, any life, was not for her.

bhaskara pushes those morbid thoughts away, bringing her dark eyes to rest on the reassuring figure of her brother. her family. his question causes her heart to stutter again, with a singing joy. there had been a time, only a few short months ago, where she would have lived happily beneath no one. she would rule her own land, her own life. but to him? she would happily submit. she doesn’t hesitate in answering. ”i would stay if you would have me here. now that we have found one another, as allah has arranged, i would stay. i would fight for your happiness in all things as strongly as my own.” and she would. the blood bay mare was fierce and protective, and would likely be loyal to a fault now that she had someone she felt deserved such loyalty.