Save me some sunshine Posted on July 14, 2021 at 11:53:42 AM by Sæunn
When Ilías left, Sæunn did not immediately go searching for him. He was almost a year, and Sæ was sure he could take fairly good care of himself for a colt. She assumed he had wandered a little too far, and so she waited for him to come back.
Slowly throughout the day her anxiety mounted. Sæunn was a bit of a recluse, and her Common tongue was not well practiced. Valka had taught her quite a bit, and she could understand well enough just by listening, but she had a hard time communicating. Ilías was better at the language, which made her more comfortable with him being on his own, as he could ask for help if he needed it. But even that was concerning, because she knew not everyone was willing to help. The world was full of those who would rather take advantage of a vulnerable person, and the thought made Sæunn’s skin crawl.
So she set off after him, pushing into the churning waves toward the Crossing, the only other island she knew. There was no scent to follow; she was going off of a guess. If he wasn’t on the Crossing, she would continue onto the other islands, searching each one after the other.
Luckily, she didn’t have to move on from the Crossing. She found Ilías chasing a butterfly not long after climbing up the shore, bounding through the brightly lit meadow as though he had not just lead his mother on a frightened goose chase across the ocean. With a stern nicker, Sæunn caught up to him, still dripping with seawater. He squealed playfully and tried to run, but the Vanner mare was quick and herded him toward the sea before he could get far.
Ilías was not phased by this, and allowed himself to be lead to the edge of the waves. But as they got there, a violent coughing brought the pair to a stop. Down the beach a short distance, a dark shape was pulling itself out of the waves with obvious difficulty. Sæ and Ilías saw it at the same time, and the colt took the opportunity to burst forward. He streaked down the beach toward the half-drowned stranger, and Sæunn charged after with a grunt of anger. The palomino mare overtook her son quickly and cut him off, forcing him to halt as she slid to a stop in the sand. The figure on the beach was now only a few paces away, and Sæunn was able to observe him more closely.
She left Ilías behind her with a threatening glare and her ears laced tightly to her skull, lest he decide to try again to escape. He seemed responsive to this, so she turned her attention to the unfortunate stallion in the sand.
Slowly, she approached until the tips of her hooves were nearly touching the dark stallion. He seemed oblivious to his surroundings, so she nickered quietly at him to see if he was awake. He was shivering violently, and the palomino mare was sure the gusting wind coming off the sea was not helping to warm him. Gently she nosed the crest of his neck, pushing her pale muzzle through the thick ebony mane. “Come,” she said, encouraging him to wake, and to stand if she could. “Come.” Replies: