Faolain had not escaped her latest battle without injuries, both physical and mental, but her loss also came with some amount of relief. She had not felt ready to lead a whole island - she hardly felt qualified to lead the Ridge as it was - and knowing that she was now free of that responsibility was no small solace. She retreated to her home knowing she had been bested by an honorable mare, and was happy to be received by Rivaini and Hades who soothed both the wounds on her flesh, and those beneath it.

Still, it was difficult to let go of that nagging feeling of failure, and she was lucky to have her family to distract her. Both mother and child had Faolain’s undivided attention, at all hours of the day. When she wasn’t fussing over Rivaini and making sure the silver bay was healing from her labor, she was chasing the little bundle of legs her companion had worked so hard to bring into the world. Hades seemed to harbor no fear, and on a few occasions Faolain considered letting him see through his adventures to completion so that he might learn such an instinct. But she never could resist the need to scoop him out of harm’s way, even if the harm was small, and as a result the ‘Teke mare forgot rather quickly about her injuries and disappointment. It was exhausting, but not in a bad way. She came to cherish the low ache in her muscles from the rough play Hades enjoyed, an ache that was always forgotten as soon as she curled against Rivaini’s side to sleep for the night.

But it would not be just the three of them forever. Faolain found herself dozing, pressed into the warm russet side of the Ridge’s other Guardian while Hades curled comfortably at their feet. There was a brief instant where she felt Rivaini stiffen, and but it did not immediately rouse her. Rougaru, she heard, and then she did wake the rest of the way; her chiseled head lifted, dark chin resting on the tense withers of her companion. Rivaini had moved to stand between her and their visitor, but her alarm had already faded by the time Faolain saw that the stallion before them posed no threat. Faolain offered a nicker of greeting, following suit as the taller mare moved to give Rougaru room to approach.

It took quite a bit of effort for Faolain not to betray Rivaini’s intentions, even though they were largely harmless. She choked back a laugh, only allowing a tense smile to show on her face, which was probably not convincing at all. She hoped Rougaru was too enraptured by his son to notice, and Hades was playing the part of innocence perfectly. Faolain watched the child intently, no longer concerned for his safety but far too invested in the inevitable gift Hades would impart on his father - the gift of blunt little teeth. Faolain herself had received such a gift more times than she cared to remember, and after the first two or three, she had realized they didn’t really hurt, they were just surprising; and Hades probably enjoyed them specifically for that reason.

faolain

mare // 6 // EE aa // 14hh