Kore sprang into motion after him, barking out a high laugh of surprise. Her tail, nearly dry at this point, flew behind her like a banner, and though they’d just left the sea she managed to keep pace. She was born for this: her high, light steps and strong hindquarters allowed her to both crest and weave between the dunes with ease, and though her breath labored and the first pinpricks of sweat mingled with her damp coat, she remained comfortable. It was their nature to float like glimmering light and shadow over the sand, the winds erasing all traces of their passage within moments.

As they ran, the sun disappeared beneath the curve of the earth, and the red light of the evening faded into the cool violet wash of true night. The desert’s warm fingers turned cool on her skin, giving her the boost she needed to keep going, farther and farther inland. Long after losing sight of the ocean, the mare chased Maslakhat around the wide curve of a dune, giggling… and spread before her, barely illuminated in starlight, sat a true oasis, just as she’d thought the previous island would be. With a grin, Kore lowered her head and pushed forward, hard, just a bit longer.

In her haste to reach the water, she didn’t ease into a canter fast enough, and grains of sand went flying as she threw her weight onto her hindquarters, spinning to a stop. Her heart felt like it would pound out of her chest, though whether it was from exertion, giddy happiness, or whatever else, she didn’t know. Frankly, she didn’t care. She couldn’t care, not right now, as pale blue moonlight draped around her like a cloak and the sweet smell of date palms filled her nose. Her dark eyes found Maslakhat’s. “Who - who won?” she asked, laughing between breaths, tucking her head to look coyly up at him. “Don’t lie to me, sir! The stars are watching.”

In that moment, Eleusis - her mother, her past, all of it - felt a million miles away.