N.asa knew the Inlet would prove to be much colder than the Desert she had initially come to when she arrived on the Islands. Even in knowing this, she still felt frozen to the bone at times, but her unadmitted love for Bjorn kept her here along with their daughter Diana. The little grullo filly proved to be a very forward child, not something N.asa was used to. Kaari whom still resided in Paradise, was much more reserved and quiet, albeit still clever. Things had shifted since her arrival to the Inlet though. There was a sense of peace from Bjorn when everyone had settled before Winter. But now that the snow had fallen and the tundra chilled, the painted stallion seemed on edge, anxious even. N.asa kept her thoughts to herself for the time being, giving him the space he needed, after all, it became obvious to the ebony mare that Sio was the red woman they had spoken about in the Falls. She was his one true love. N.asa could not compete with that.


As the sun began to crest the horizon, N.asa ventured out of the seclusion of trees in the Inlet. Bjorn was already awake and surveying the remaining sleeping mares and his children. Diana still dozed, a welcome anomaly for N.asa as the filly was like a wound top stuck on repeat. N.asa had never been asked so many questions by a child before. Taking this delicate moment to slip from the trees to Bjorn, she picked her way carefully across the well worn path where Bjorn stood. She whickered gently as she approached, her ears swiveling atop her tousled crown and greeted him with warm breath. "I must admit, it is much colder than I imagined, but there is a beauty to it," she murmurs. Her eyes follow his as the others begin to stir.