Cerosi heard the inviting nicker and moved closer to Cain, gold eyes sweeping over his painted frame to try and read him. She would probably never break the habit of approaching cautiously, trying to glean information from the body language of stallions to make sure one was safe to engage, even though Cain had given her no reason to fear him. She tried anyway, but sensed nothing different from their previous interaction except maybe some emotional tiredness. He dipped his head, and his voice was friendly and welcoming when he addressed her, so the tungsten mare stepped forward to exchange breaths in greeting.

How are you finding the Desert? he asked, and Cerosi grinned. ”I finally blew out my coat, so I’m quite comfortable now,” she said with a laugh. In a slightly more serious tone, she added, ”the Desert is lovely. Akello showed me around, so I know where most everything is now, but I haven’t worked up the courage to meet anybody else.” She pawed the dusty ground shyly. ”I’m sorry I didn’t come see you when… when everything happened,” she blurted. She’d never been good at apologies. Cerosi ducked her head, ashamed at both her lack of inaction and the weak apology she had offered for it, but she did not know how to make it better.

After a time, she looked up again, her expression cheerful once more. ”Oh, Akello showed me a peach tree!” she said excitedly, as though she had just remembered this fact (she had). ”I’ve had peaches before, but it was a long time ago. They’re one of my only good memories of the mainland. I’m so happy they’re here, too.” Apparently unaware of her scattered thoughts which were undoubtedly hard to follow, Cerosi just beamed as she thought about the peach tree and waited for Cain to respond.

• CEROSI •