The companionship Evren enjoys with Persephone is unlike anything she's experienced with a stallion. With Mikhail, Shamwari, and even Han's sire, it had been all passion and impulse: unpredictable, exciting, and often volatile. Their relationships had been wildfires, fated either to burn out or destroy everything in their paths.

With Persephone, it's as easy as riding the current of a gentle river, or bathing in sunshine: stable, nourishing, and comfortable. Designed to last.

Sometimes, just sometimes, Evren misses the passion and excitement she has enjoyed with stallions over the years, but in times like this, she does not. The mellow cadence of Persephone's voice in her ear and touch on her skin fills her with warmth, bringing momentary peace to her frayed spirit. She laughs, and as they fall into step beside each other, she keeps close enough for their swaying barrels to gently brush against each other.

The mood of their conversation quickly changes, however. Evren sighs at Persephone's question, and a few moments of quiet pass in which she stares blankly at the path ahead. It's early enough in the season that most of the trees retain their foliage, but a few golden leaves - the first heralds of autumn - lie scattered on the ground before them, a reminder of the great change that’s to come.

"I don't know," she says evasively, even though she knows exactly what's troubling her. "Hormones, I guess. And it's been so quiet lately, with the girls gone more and more often. I've been worrying about Aysu, too - just wondering how she is, how she's coping on Salem, and all that."

Evren side-eyes Persephone, watching carefully to see her response. "It's strange not having any small children left in the herd, don't you think? It feels… empty, somehow."