Quiet was his surroundings now that Shahin had gone. Regret stood motionless, his blue eyes watching the distant horizon that had swallowed up her red form, her angry words still echoing in his head. He could not believe that she would go to the Commons, or that she had truly abandoned him, until he did. Fear rose up like a tidal wave, threatening to completely overcome his senses. Regret had felt fear before, he lived driven by the very feeling, but it was nothing like this. It put motion to his hooves until he found himself racing across Salem, following the red mare’s tracks, even as they were swallowed by the surf.
Never before had the stallion left Salem, and the wash of salty water across his skin was shocking, as was the strength of the waves. Still, he trudged on with only one thing clear in his mind. Shahin might choose to go to the Commons, she might choose to be in another herd with another stallion, but she could not choose to leave him. Not as everyone else had; wordless and without goodbye. Nor angry as she had done.
As the stallion climbs upon the shore, he is struck by the view of his surroundings. Spring has made the Crossing lush with vegetation; grass taller than he had ever seen before, and so many trees he didn’t think he could count them all. As he takes a few steps inland, he can’t help but look down at the solid ground. It’s strange and foreign how it doesn’t shift beneath his weight as the sands of Salem does. But he cannot let himself get distracted. He needs to find Shahin, before he loses her forever.
Adrenaline and fear keep Regret moving forward and not yet tiring from his travels, while his nostrils flare to catch what little remaining scent is left of Shahin’s passing. He follows her the best he can, until finally he spots her red figure up ahead. Up until now, he has only thought of finding her, and not of anything he might say once he did. The realization caused him to halt as she carried on ahead, making him wonder if this was the right decision after all. If he could not think of anything to say to keep her from leaving, perhaps she had made the right choice in leaving him after all. But that fear raised its ugly head once more, causing Regret to call out to Shahin in hopes of one last chance.
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