Halcyon
The dull ache she was familiar with had returned to her chest as reality reformed around her, reminding her that she was still very much alone and very much apart from everything she'd always known. The young mare at her side looked instantly sorry and Halcyon frowned, realizing - belatedly - that her words might have been construed as harsher than she'd intended. It was never pleasant waking from her daydreams, especially when it was sudden, and especially when she had surprise real company.
"It's fine-" Hal began, flustered. "You didn't do anything, I'm sorry. I'm just-" Just what? Just addled, just lost, just confused. "I don't know, just waking up, I guess."
She cleared her throat, tail flicking at her hocks uneasily as she took another uncertain step back, her whole body flush with embarrassment and shame. "I'm sorry," she began again after the girl was done, not at all trusting what she had heard initially. She wasn't certain where the line was drawn between what she had dreamed and what had been real, and the last thing she wanted to do was to start making assumptions now. "I don't, um, I don't know what I'd speak to your father about...?" He had made it clear enough that his loyalty belonged to Cromer, even if Hal still didn't really understand the whole situation between them. They weren't at all how she had been with her love, but she was learning that love came in all sorts of different shapes and sizes.
"Even if I wanted to go," which she wasn't certain she did or didn't, only that the thought of staying here in the gray area where nothing more than friendship would ever develop, sounded like more of the same muddy anguish she'd been slogging through for years. It was as equally untenable as the thought of trying to find love again. Going to the Commons was supposed to be a fresh start for her, a new beginning in a herd with a stallion that was interested in knowing her. Instead, she'd ended up with a gentleman who was every bit proper and welcoming, but seemingly not the slightest bit interested in her as a partner. She pushed at the heavy thought, sliding it aside enough to focus on the conversation again. "I don't have anywhere else to go, child."
Which was, again, not entirely true. There was always the Cove, and her family, but it had been so long since she'd seen any of them and the thought of facing down Xiomara again made her stomach churn. The Shore, as Halcyon understood at this moment, was dangerous territory, led by Ironclad or one of his minions, and certainly off-limits to her.