For the first time in as long as Guinevere can remember, her life settles into peace. Aldebaran proved to be as true to his word as he professed and is diligent in his love and affection for their daughter as well as herself. Though patrols and duty keep him away for many hours during the day and even into the evenings, Guin handles his absences with admiration and silent appreciation. Too often in her life she has faced promises of devotion and met with abandonment in the aftermath. Antares promised her a different life in the deserts of Salem and so far, he had been right.
This morning, like the many since Falak’s birth, the moon-dappled mare arose early. The first rays of dawn were barely streaking the horizon in pink and purple hues when she roused the rose-dappled girl. As always, Falak groaned in protest, attempting to jerk her small head away from the reach of her mother’s pestering lips. ”Come on now silly butterfly, you waste the morning.” Guinevere teased her. With a gruff ’FINE!’, Falak allowed the dappled grey mare to unwind her from the tight ball she had managed to curl herself into and begrudgingly rose to her hooves. Guinevere gave her daughter a moment to shake the sand from her coat before trotting down the slope of sand and onto the firmer ground near the claypan.
Guinevere brings her lithe limbs to a dancing halt as dark auburn eyes cast a searching gaze over the small oasis. Her and there, members of the Sadim grazed on the short grasses just beyond the water’s reach or like herself, ventured to drink from the night-chilled waters before the sun heated them. As always, their world seemed at peace, devoid of the struggles that seemed to haunt the islands at every turn like the silver mare had warned of.
’Mom? Can I go to the beach for a little while?’ Falak’s demure voice broke her from the distant memories already growing hazy with age. Pale lashes blink as she casts a glance down into the doe-eyes of her pleading daughter. She even managed to protrude her lower lip this time in an effort to further her case. The sight is almost comical. ”I suppose so…” Guinevere murmurs, doing her best to suppress the chuckle of amusement behind closed lips. Gingerly she lowers her head to nuzzle the filly’s white star affectionately. ”Just be sure to stay out of the shallows. There are sharks congregating this time of year.”
The last words no doubt fall on deaf ears for the filly has already spun away with a joyous squeal. The moon-washed mare chuckles unbridles this time, her concave facade shaking slowly. She watches in silence as Falak's lithe frame disappears over the Dunes towards the beach. She was becoming more and more like Aldebaran every day.
