Things were… strange. Inside Bane’s head, things were loud. There were lots of things falling through her mind, clattering around in her head. Everything is strange, and that’s okay. Spring had finally come, and everything was thawing out. Bane herself was thawing out. Her heart was thawing out in her chest, as well, and that was okay. There’s a fondness creeping back to her, something that she hadn’t put a name to in what felt like a long time. Fondness for the Peak, for her home. Home. It was good to be able to say that word again.

The idea of belonging somewhere. Bane didn’t realize that she’d well and truly missed it here. Maybe if she had, she would have returned sooner. Well, no use dwelling over lost time. The living legend would make up for that as best she could. She had set about re-learning every curve and roll of the land, re-exploring the Crossing itself. Now that spring had come, Bane would be able to see the other islands. The mare would reacquaint herself.

Bane was a fan of her ledge. She could see over the Peak, and out onto the Crossing beyond. It was a good vantage point. Nothing would surprise them, if she could help it. Being able to see absolutely everything was a comfort to Bane. It was from her spot that she can see the painted mare arriving, and crossing in. There aren’t many details that she can tell from her perch, but the spring breeze carries the scent of a mare. She wouldn’t need to chase anyone away, rather the opposite. Looked like it was time to welcome someone home.

As the champagne mare steps away from her ledge, she can see Oswin moving to greet the stranger as well. Bane wasn’t quite sure how she felt, but she’d be social today. With confident steps, she makes her way down the side of their mountain. Steady. Solid. Approaching the softness of the grass, Bane is grateful for the softer ground under her feet. The champagne mare catches Oswin introducing herself, but doesn’t catch all of the words. No matter. Something about the other veteran mare’s movements was strange, wooden.

Softly, Bane calls out. Her green eyes glimmered in the sunlight, and she closed the gap. “Welcome,” she came to rest a comfortable distance from Oswin. A familiar distance. It would be an adjustment period before she was used to being close to anyone again. “I’m Bane.” Sure, she’d introduce herself now, as Oswin had done. Softly, the champagne looks to her comrade, unable to keep herself from asking. “Are you okay?” Had someone harmed her? Were they at war again?

Anath x Thane