For Rivaini, the touch of Faolain’s dark skin on hers washed away all fears and doubts as effectively as the water rinsed the clinging layer of soil and debris from her tawny-red coat. In the time it took to fill her lungs with a deep draft of air, the silver bay was refreshed, and utterly at ease - except when she glanced back at the pale, distant figure of her brother. That his approach was so reluctant only seemed to confirm that something had broken between the pair in her absence. And beneath the smile that she still wore and the elation that had begun to wither within her, Rivaini worried what might come of the triangle that they had formed on the Crossing should their troubles prove unmendable. If Iscariot was their sun, what would happen to the two mares who had become his satellites should he choose to walk away?
The tender moment that followed Iscariot’s arrival dissolved the worst of the bay mare’s worries, but a dark seed of doubt still lingered.
“I missed you, too,” Iscariot breathed, feeling a sweet ache deep within himself at the way the black mare’s breath warmed his skin. Were it not for the image that rose unbidden in his mind’s eye - the sight of the Akhal-Teke standing close to Shamwari on the beach, her expression warm and happy - he might have been completely at peace. “Don’t apologize, It’s my fault too, Faolain, I-” The perlino stallion felt abruptly silent as the words caught in his throat, a lump that would not budge no matter how hard he swallowed. His pale gaze flicked towards his sister pleadingly - a subtle gesture that passed as quickly as the blink of an eye - but it was enough.
“What Iscariot means to say,” Rivaini interrupted smoothly, a wicked grin beginning to curve her dark lips. “Is that we would’ve been here much sooner if it wasn’t for a certain Limpy Legs making my patrol take twice as long as usual.” Her teasing laughter rang through the air, genuine enough beneath the subtle note of strain that weighted it. And Iscariot played his part as well, flattening his ears indignantly and snapping his teeth shut on the air beside one of her ears. “Why don’t you tell Faolain about when you tried and failed to jump over that fallen tree not once, but twice? While this gimpy genius just walked around it and waited for you on the other side.” Still playing at being affronted, the ghostly male turned his back on his giggling sister, rolling his ice-blue eyes exaggeratedly. But there was palpable relief evident in the way the tension drained from his body, and in the soft whisper of breath that was released.
Iscariot was grateful that even when he hadn’t treated her as well as he should, he could always count on his sibling to watch out for him.
What followed was a quiet lull that was more comfortable; a sort of communion between the three that required no speech. Iscariot was rendered helpless beneath the minstrations of Faolain’s teeth, his eyes falling closed and his body leaning into hers - expressing everything in silence that he could not in words. When she moved on to his sister, he stepped forward to return the favor, moving slowly from the dip of her withers to the curve of her croup. After a time, he became aware of the soft touch of Rivaini’s lips on his pale skin, completing the triangle that had been drawn between the trio since Faolain had reunited brother and sister. It was a good feeling, to bask in the love of those whom he cared for in turn - and to set aside the fears that surely, nothing this good could last.
Rivaini’s thoughts were similar, if more indistinct. As overwhelmed as she was by the emotions that had been awakened during this reunion, she found herself unable to focus on much. But the one thought that did keep circling through the still pool of her mind was that she had never thought to love another as much as she did her brother Iscariot. And though her feelings for Faolain were of an entirely different nature, their depth might actually exceed that which she had known of the love one sibling could feel for another.
ISCARIOT & RIVAINI
i can see your light |