It was not until she heard a soft voice calling out to her that Ofelia realised she was no longer alone. Jolting free of the reverie she’d found herself in, the small mare startled momentarily, but as her wide, emberglow eyes sought and studied the form of her new companion, she found herself calming quickly. It was no stallion, but a mare, and one closer in size to her at that, albeit not built so as to appear fragile, the way Ofelia was. "Oh, I..." Ofelia replied quietly, her mouth searching for an answer to the mare’s question. "Yes, I’m okay, I’m not hurt, or…" Almost absentmindedly, the little paso fino trailed off, her face crumpling in thought for a moment.
She still wasn’t very confident around strangers, that much was clear. But the pretty, pale gold mare, all soft and kind was beautiful and graceful in a way that conveyed a great strength Ofelia found unique. This one was nothing like Xiomara. (No-one was like Xiomara.) But the red dun mare felt safe all the same. "Just a little lost." Ofelia offered the words with a small, not-quite-certain smile, and dared venture a half-step forward. "I’m Ofelia," she gave the stranger her name. A twitch of a red ear and a flick of her tail. That timid little smile grew brighter and bolder. "Thank you, for coming to see if I was okay." For a moment, it seemed as though she wanted to say more, but there was hesitation in the depths of her eyes and the stiffening lines of her shoulders. It had been quite some time since last she’d lingered in the company of another, so focused (and desperate) she had been in her search for Xiomara.
Often, Ofelia found her thoughts drifting back to those she’d left behind on the sandy Shore that had been her home. There was a measure of guilt that she carried upon her shoulders for abandoning them, but stronger still was the determination to find the skull-faced blue roan mare. Twice, Ofelia had almost given up, but she was braver now than she had been when first arriving upon this cluster of islands. Washed up with the tide in the deep, icy throes of winter. And it was Xiomara who’d taught her to be brave. It was Xiomara who’d given her a reason.
Slightly, Ofelia shifted so that she was facing the mare more directly. For the time being, Ofelia found herself wondering about her new companion. Where had she come from? Was she alone too? "I came from Atlantis. It used to be my home," the red mare found herself explaining, hoping to allay any worry the kind mare might have, but in reality, perhaps only adding to it. A beat of silence, and Ofelia considered asking outright if the mare had seen Xiomara, or if she knew of her at all. Instead, hoping to engage with the mare instead (if only so she’d linger a few moments more, and keep the loneliness at bay just a little longer), Ofelia found herself latching onto the topic she herself had brought up. "Have you ever been there? I’ve never seen so much green in all my life."
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