Faolain had never been much for company, but she was beginning to think all these years she had just spent it with the wrong kind. From a yearling to point she had left the mainland altogether, Faolain had always preferred to be alone, despite the effort she put into meeting and learning about others on her travels. She had never felt the sense of belonging she knew most others experienced, and she had never truly connected with others despite her many attempts. She had always just felt… other. Alone, even when surrounded by a herd who welcomed her as family.

It was alright for a while, the solitude. It was not what drove the black mare from the mainland. She thought she would be content chasing her wanderlust forever, never settling, but stories of a certain chain of islands had come up too often to ignore. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her, and the Islands had come to satisfy much more than that curiosity. The bonds she had formed with Iscariot and Rivaini had taught her more about herself than she probably ever would have learned on the mainland. She did not feel alone at all when she spent time in their company, and they had opened her up to enjoy the company of others in ways she had not known before. She had begun to realize this in the Meadow with Çiçek and Solomon, but now, without the strange coolness of the painted stallion, she was certain of it.

Faolain did not know which one of them was having more fun; Çiçek for seeing the jungle cliffs and all of their majesty, or Faolain for watching the amazement in Çiçek. She grinned widely as the spotted mare trotted off and followed suit, keeping pace at her flank as though she were just a shadow. Small dark hooves sank into the pale sand as they paused, and Faolain had a moment to admire the flower Çiçek had chosen before a familiar shape burst out of the jungle.

The quick moment of alarm was immediately replaced with joy as she realized it was Rivaini, and she gave a high-pitched whinny of greeting. It was no longer with nervous anticipation that Faolain held back from returning to her companion, out of fear that she might smother the silver bay; now, aside from the occasional trip out to the Crossing, Faolain was quite clingy. She had not thought about the possibility of Çiçek and Rivaini meeting, but found herself excited at the idea of her new friend meeting her old one. She had not known Çiçek for long, but she was so friendly and bright that the dark mare couldn’t help but want Rivaini to experience the golden mare’s kindness as well.

When Çiçek had politely asked may I?, Faolain had not immediately understood what she meant, and Rivaini’s timing had saved her from having to ask. Now, as the copper mare neatened Faolain’s mane - Faolain practically purring beneath her touch - she realized what it was Çiçek had intended to do with the vibrant bloom, and she blushed mightily beneath her dark fur. This was another thing of many that Faolain had never experienced. Where once she would have felt hollow despite the closeness of others, Faolain felt something, similar in some ways to what she felt when she was in the presence of the siblings. It was a feeling of belonging, and she realized the emptiness she had felt on the mainland had in part been her own fault. Yes, she was different; she knew this, and she knew that because of it, people often treated her differently. But she had also stubbornly refused to receive any love that had been offered to her in the past. Whether this was out of fear of impermanence, or denial of its existence altogether, Faolain would never be certain. In this moment, she was just happy to know that not only was there love in the world for her, she also had the capability to receive it, and hopefully reciprocate it.

”Thank you,” she said softly to both mares, her tone perhaps a little heavy with emotion for what the act of putting a flower in a mane called for. She felt a little silly for reflecting so deeply into herself during such a light interaction, but she did not regret it. ”Do I get to pick out flowers for both of you next?” she asked, her tone lighter now, with laughter in her voice and a playful glint in her eye.