Like a grounded bird, Roisin flew on pale hooves across the beloved terrain of her jungle home. Familiarity bred confidence, and she raced with no heed to the other residents of the Ridge, sure that her feet would find the right path.

Not even Faolain's claim of the land had shaken her, for Roisin had been far too young to connect all the implications of the act. All that she knew was that daddy had gone away, and Sig, and the others too, and that it was their job to stay home and to wait for him. Ailill had reassured her often that her daddy loved her, and she had no reason to doubt it, for Bjorn had told her the same before he had disappeared.

She was beloved, and had never had to live a day without this knowledge.

That didn't mean she didn't miss him. And Sigurdr. Her memories of them were cherished, and she missed them with a dull pain that made her stomach hurt at night. She didn't know how long they would have to be away, but she hoped that they would come back soon so they could all be a family.

With a toss of her pretty face, Roisin changed course for the macaws, delighted at her escape from her parental escort. It was not often that she was left alone, but now that she was growing older they had begun to trust her more often, and it had seemed like there was something heavy that the two needed to talk about. Or something. Ro wasn't really sure, but it was obvious that her momma was getting more comfortable with Ailill from the way she relaxed around him more. She just wanted to see them both happy. To see them all happy, really.

A familiar scent tugged at her nostrils, one she'd glimpsed often in the months since her family had been torn. She'd never been able to track the source, and after some time, her mother had finally stopped accompanying her on these tracking missions. Ro wasn't really sure why, but she knew that Sio often ended them close to tears. So she didn't ask her anymore.

Instead, she raced along with her nose to the ground like some sort of bloodhound, absolutely certain she'd smelled her brother. The path was muddied with various tracks, both of her own and her families, which had continued to grow to Ro's mild chagrin. Not that she didn't like Akadi, but now she had to split her mom's attention four ways instead of two, and she didn't really care for it.

All of this is forgotten when she see's him. The slender filly skids to an ungraceful halt, her pale eyes nearly bug-eyed from shock as she stared at the almost familiar shape before her.

"Sigurdr?" She gasps the question, nearly breathless, but does not wait for an answer. With a crow of delight, she leaps forward, tears of joy already gathering on her lids. "Sig!"

Eagerly she crashes into him, leaping to her hind limbs to wrap her neck around him, even as she buries her face into his shoulder. "I missed you! Oh, I'm so glad you're back!"

She laughs in delight as she pulls away, her sadness already forgotten. "Where have you been? Do you know what mom did? We've got another sister. Mom found her in the Falls!"

So filled with excitement she can barely contain it, she dances in place. Eagerly she peeks behind her patched brother, her eyes searching the trees for the once familiar shape of their father. "Where's dad?"

FILLY | MUTT | 14.3 HANDS WFG | BAY DUN SABINO | THE RIDGE | BJORN x SIOBHAN | LOVEINSPIRED | CREDIT