As much as Oswin wanted to charge forth into the cold, winter waters and explore every island and learn exactly how hard her mission would be to see through, she knew she needed to be smart about things as well. Age taught her wisdom, as did the loss of her brother and the realization as to why her plan was so important.
If she pushed evil from the isles for good, no foal would be born under the circumstances her brother had been. Her mother may’ve never touched such evil that made her treat him the way he had. To hate him as she had. As important as that was, Oswin knew it couldn’t be done in a day.
Instead of traveling to the Commons to apprehend some brutish leader and let them know of a new obstacle to face, Oswin turned for the Meadows. Perhaps she would find a calm, friendly conversation there. Maybe she would find other mares who saw the world as she did and she could entice them to consider joining the Peak. She couldn’t take on the islands alone, she’d need other like minded individuals.
Her thoughts ambled with each step she took, her weight crunching into the frigid, frosted ground beneath her. A breath sighed warm out of her lips and she flicked her ears, noticing she was only a few paces away from the Meadow now. An easy smile turned the corners of her mouth, wondering who’s path she might cross and whether or not their face would be a familiar one to her. She hoped she might meet someone familiar. A friendly face, for that matter.
Then, a shrill cry split the air. What few birds had been tucked in the naked branches couldn’t stall their cowardice any longer. Their chorus of cries followed the mare like an audience as their wings flapped and they launched themselves up into the sky and away. Oswin’s pale nostrils flared outward and her eyes tried to seek the danger as if it would suddenly appear with a bright red bullseye.
Rather than turn about and get herself to safety before she walked into the open danger of the Meadows, Oswin ran forward. Bravado had always been her greatest strength and her greatest weakness, but she would turn to it every single time. Help was needed and help she would give.
Oswin whinnied loud, hoping her joining call might let whatever danger was there know that there were more numbers to stand against it. She slowed her lope as she reached the trees, a bouncing trot winding her around their gnarled trunks until their numbers thinned and the Meadow opened before her. Two horses - one a gleaming red chestnut flecked in white spots and the other a deep, gold buckskin delicately draped in white stripes - were standing at attention near her.
“It is coming,” her attention-perked ears heard the stallion say.
“What is?” She asked, fighting the instinct that was screaming at her to run to instead stand and fight and protect those unable to protect themselves. Shortly after she asked, the smell hit her. Her eyes rolled, whites flashing, and she snorted the scent from her nostrils with offense and danced a nervous few steps in place.
oswin
this is as brave as I know how to be.
I know it’s gonna hurt you, but please… be a little proud of me.