Common

She doesn't see him at first, doesn't hear the hoofbeats above the rumble of the thunder, nor notice his pursuit of her at all until he is too close for even her preoccupied mind to ignore. When she does spot the familiar patchwork colored stallion, it is not recognition that dawns first but a deep, primal fear associated with her last trip to the Commons. The memory of the golden stallion bearing down upon her and placing an unwanted claim across her shoulders chased her in her dreams even now, years later. The painted mare whirls to face him, but finds herself frozen as she had last time, her heart in her throat and her warm eyes wide with alarm.

This was not the same stallion. She knew that logically, but she still shifted a half a step back as he began to speak, her mind whirling as she tried to process what was in front of her. This was not the same stallion that had attacked her, but it was not a stranger either. This face, for better or worse, was familiar to her.

Sigurdr.

Relief filled her eyes and she breathed out the tense breath she'd been holding, only to draw in another as her brow furrowed. Why was he talking to her like they were strangers?

He'd claimed her once. Stolen her from beneath the nose of another interested suitor and taken her home to Atlantis. Had even helped her look for the little white flowers her mother loved. She knew him. Had very nearly sought him out that first autumn before she had any idea why she craved his touch to begin with. Had spent years daydreaming of a reunion with the most perfect stallion she'd ever met.

And now she was a stranger to him?

The realization sank like a stone to the pit of her stomach and she shuddered - storm forgotten. She nodded woodenly to his request but did not trust her lips to form words without trembling at first. She stepped back hesitantly and then turned again, indicating the direction she'd been travelling in. Clearing her throat, she tried to speak, pointing her gaze away from him lest it give away the tears gathering on her lower lashes. "If-if you want." She kept a dark rimmed ear tilted toward him and kept her pace slow so that he could come alongside her if he wanted. She had no idea how she was going to hold a conversation with a stranger-not-stranger while her heart was breaking, but she didn't have the courage to turn him away.

"I have a place up here." She said quietly, risking another peek at his face. It was still the same heartbreakingly beautiful face she remembered, which only made the ache in her chest worse.