For the first time in years, Ayiana feels herself falling beneath the magical embrace of love. The memories that had long grown faded and gray with age, resurface now bright and vivid. She is there, watching with a wide smile on her lips as mother and father lean into one another, sharing whispered words and tender kisses. No longer does she feel the emptiness in the pit of her belly that often revived with those memories, instead there is warmth and understanding.

Zurok presses his muscular frame tightly against hers, offering solace from the chill of autumn’s breeze as it swept across the moonwashed prairie. Happiness fills her heart, warming the ice and stone edges. His tender words chip away at the fractured pieces of her soul until nothing remains but the whole. Together with him. A place to belong. A place of love. It is all she has ever wanted and all that the fates seemed determined to hold above her reach. ’ …we will always be together… ‘ his words soothe the raw wounds inside her and she cannot help the sigh of contentment that slips past her lips unbidden. Yes. Together. He continues on to speak of her in reverent tones, admiring her view of him as more than a mere leader and sharing her same unexplained feelings of acceptance. The voice within her that whispers they are mere strangers grows fainter and fainter with each warm breath he pressed against her gilded skin.

For a time, she breathed in the comfortable silence of their embrace, lost to the melody of crickets and whippoorwills and the steady rhythm of their heartbeats. If only it could be like this forever. Even a dream must come to an end when the morning sun rises.

’ We shall forge a love story that would inspire even the stars themselves… ‘ The murmur of his voice lifts her fluttering lashes and she blinks away the lull that had washed over her. Stars. Moon. Amaris. Raegar. She had been gone far longer than she expected to. Stiffling a groan she arches her neck to tuck her finely dished head into the sleek dark curve of Zurok’s throat. ”I hope so.” she whispers, burrowing her muzzle into the wind-tossed tendrils of his black mane. She had to return to the Badlands. If only to prevent Amaris from worrying or Raegar from ripping the islands apart in search of her.

She sighs heavily and withdraws, pressing her pink muzzle against the dark velvet of Zurok’s. ”I have to go back…” she murmurs, regret clouding the silver blue of her eyes as they searched his own. Golden ears tilt backward as reluctantly she pulls herself from his embrace. ”I will come back. But first I must ensure my daughter is safe… that she knows where I am.” she is careful to leave out her fears of Raegar’s reaction. She does not want Zurok to worry nor would she risk his safety at the wrath of the young Badlands stallion.