The evening summer wind gently played with the stallion’s creamy mane. Light blue eyes watched as the sun slowly started to set and the half moon already started to smile at its reflection on the shallow surf. A few particularly eager stars twinkled in the darkening sky. It was a quiet night, one of serene peace.

It had been a while since Faolain had claimed the Ridge and Bjorn had vanished, and it was one of the first nights Ailill felt strangely at peace. The dark mare had not pressured or pursued him or those he cared for. Though she had been around, her presence was not pushy. It had given him and the others space to breathe and learn she was not some sort of conqueror, but really just a woman who had found a home. He exhaled into the night. Perhaps they had all judged each other too swiftly and allowed fear to grip them too soon. He glanced up the trail where Aislinn slept with Siobhan and Roisin. Perhaps his loyalties had shifted.

Slowly, his mind started to form thoughts about what would happen next. Siobhan seemed more or less settled with the thought of staying, and Aislinn was too young to know the complexities of what was happening. Atlantis had always held Ailill’s heart, and if he was allowed to stay, he would call the Ridge home if Paradise was out of his reach. He made a note to seek the black mare in the morning, and tell her of at least his decision, trusting that Siobhan could make her own as well. The burden off his shoulders, the pale gold stallion began to sway gently with the wind. Closing his eyes he stepped to the right, back, stepped, and to the left and up again. He did this a couple of times before adding a backwards turn, and a lift of his forehooves, mane blowing around him like a whispering cloak. Hooves lightly touched the sand again for a moment before he stepped again, twisting in a single dancer waltz. A smile flickered on his lips. He was not sure Siobhan would dance with him, Doreen possibly would. But his mind wandered to a young lady he knew who would, and he wondered if Shararat still danced on the sand wherever she had found herself.