The twirl and dance of snowflakes around her was not as intoxicating as it had been when Ashteroth had first seen them. A light, late snowfall begins to drift down from the dark clouds filling the sky. They land upon the heavy coat of the mare, dusting across her broad back and along the crest of her neck and mane. She does little to shake them away, letting them insulate her from the chill that seemed never ending since winter. If only she had someone to hold her, to warm her, to claim her….


The painted woman finally shakes her head, sending the crystalline flakes spiraling from her dark hair. His eyes haunted her at night; the glowing gold, like a predator watches its prey. The deep noise that rumbled up from his chest when he had placed his teeth upon her flesh. Ashteroth often dreams of what would have happened if Parvati had not interrupted them. To fan the flame that had seemingly grew between them. It had been seasons since then, did it still smolder for him as it did for her?


Why didn’t he come to find her?


The question had held Ashteroth in check since she had returned home. The young mare hadn’t explained where she had been, nor did it keep her from exploring other parts of Tinuvel. But there was a darker part of Ashteroth that wanted to find the painted man and make sure he had not forgotten about her. Even if he had chased after a different tail.


With the evening sun hidden behind the clouds, the trees were already casting long shadows when Ashteroth left the safety of the herd. She had made sure there were no keen eyes watching her, not wanting to be followed as she made her way towards the Inlet. Even going so far as to zigzag her trail, so that her scent trail would be harder to trace. By time the young mare had made it to the furthest territory on the island, darkness had fully settled upon the land.


Ashteroth did not let her doubts give her hesitation as she stepped into the somewhat familiar land. Although she knew it was reasonable to think that the painted stallion could very well be cuddled up with Parvati right now, she had envisioned this meeting countless times over. Where she would see the glow of his eyes, before she felt the warmth of his body. Only he had come to her in these dreams. Ashteroth didn’t know how it would go, now that this was reality.