though the ghost of deep emotion still plays across evren’s face, it becomes clearer that she is not ready yet to speak of the thing, even as it threatens to turn back into something living. bhaskara is worried then, about how to know what to say to comfort if she does not even know the nature of the pain, but it passes and her painted sister rushes headlong into distraction, somewhere comfortable for them both.

bhaskara nods generously, eager to take up her part.”yes, sister, i could use a drink. and a tour of your home?” the bay mare is lead easily inland and the trees seem so large that bhaskara can hardly imagine their age. she is torn between the happiness of seeing her sister, and the pain of still feeling like somewhat of a stranger but she is still glad she had come.

the bird startles her more than evren, and bhaskara feels foolish as she stands with wide eyes and hooves splayed as if poised to flee. in the desert, across the sand, there were few things hidden from her vision that could startle her in such a manner. she blows out a steady breath, feeling silly then, and then snorts as evren mentions the desert.. ”things are… ok. i have decided that… for now… my heart is no longer set on the taking up that land. there is a family there now… and i would be alone. it seems wrong to displace them for my own pleasure, but i could not join them. “ she speaks simply though there is a note of pain in her voice she doesn’t try to hide. she is also too proud to admit that she fears she could not beat cain even if she were to try again…. she had lost to him twice and she was getting older, though he was too.