Falls

Cold waves swelled around Romulus’s chest as he swam back to the Crossing. His brief meeting with Cain had gone well, he thought, and he held onto tentative hope that things would continue in the same fashion. He liked the painted Desert stallion, at least on first impression, and the Desert reminded him of his childhood. He hoped Dhaniyā would like it as well.

He was anxious to get back to the Crossing. He swam without tiring, though his breath was heavy by the time he reached the sands of the big central isle, and his heart pounded. It might have been from the swim, but he thought it just as likely to be from nerves. He was going to see Dhaniyā again.

His big hooves ate up the ground beneath him as Romulus made his way to the Falls. The day had passed by while he was on Salem, and now the Crossing lay shrouded in darkness, but the pale moonlight was enough to see by.

At the edge of the clearing surrounding the Falls, Romulus halted. He could see the great curtain of water, hear its roaring, and beneath it he saw the familiar sunset figure of Dhaniyā. He watched as she stepped beneath the sheet of water, his ears cupped forward curiously, but he remained in the trees for a few moments longer. It was only when she stepped back out again and looked right at him that he smiled, and emerged into the clearing.

“Hello, Sunshine,” he said, his voice a husky half-whisper as he approached the pool where she stood. The cold water swirled around his legs as he stepped in to join her. I knew you would come, she said. Romulus reached to press his whiskered muzzle against hers, breathing in her scent for a moment before speaking.

“Of course. Would have been pretty rude to stand you up,” he teased lightly, his lips lifting to her ears, where he nibbled one gently. “I have some good news. But it can wait a minute.”