Soft velvet ears trained on Faolian as the mare spoke. Her voice was steady and calm, easing the child into peace along with the backdrop sound of the waves. Slowly, unconsciously being beckoned away from her mission, Akadi stepped from the shallow surf and back into a realm of safety. While she listened to the words the young filly felt the stirs of emotions, some she was all too familiar with. Curiosity, confusion, fear… others she could not name. Still listening, she looked out at the water, trying to reconcile the explanation Faolian gave her with what she had been taught since she had come here.

The mare explained the swim was dangerous, and the water was cold. She had made the swim a season before when Siobhan was bringing her to a new world of love and companionship. This had been the best she had ever known and could not believe someone needed to be rescued or brought out of the Ridge, or out of her family. She felt anger at the mare who had done this, remembering the shouts and screams during the fight. Watching as Ailill was beaten and driven down and then Siobhan ushered into the waves. Unconsciously, Akadi’s ears flicked back and her dark eyes narrowed. This was her first encounter with intentional injustice and she could not understand it. Something deeper than anger, far more sinister and toxic bloomed in her breast. Hate.

Having never experienced this feeling before, she tried to shake her head. Clear it of the possibly unfounded thoughts that clouded her mind. She looked back at Faolian, as if looking at her face would suddenly give her all the answers she needed though she had not asked any other questions. The mare asked her question, and she glanced back at the waves, her head low, defeated. If Ailill and Faolian could not defy the world and bring Siobhan back, she doubted she could. I will wait, until spring. I do not want to make her do what that mare did. Though Akadi was sure bringing her caregiver back was better than taking her away.

Why would this happen? Innocence was a curse as well as a blessing. She needed to know why someone would go through such lengths to cause harm. She needed to know why the poison in her own heart was making her hurt and making her sick.