Annubis does not linger in the commons long. The silver beast is all too familiar how quickly the tides of hope can turn and be dashed away into nothingness. Although reserved and apprehensive, Annubis has quickly grown attached to the reserved mare and her vivacious daughter. Promise reminded him so much of the girl that Holo had once been when she had been tagging along at his heels as he traipsed from one end of Atlantis to the next in hopes of securing the kingdom that had once been. None of it had ever fallen into his lap of course, not like the abandonment of Paradise and he, the wolf waiting in the shadows.

Annubis wanted to see the excitement in Promise’s soft features as Paradise came into view. He wanted to see how the brightly colored parrots made her giggle and the gentle waves lapped at her small hooves as she bound carefree along the shoreline as he and Holo had once done many years before. He wanted for her what Hymn seemed equally as desperate to obtain…. Family. A sense of belonging. In all his travels, from the mainlands and to each of the islands, nothing felt as much like home as Atlantis and none quite so much as Paradise. He wanted that for her. He wanted that for Hymn.

Multifaceted gaze travels from the younger girl to the grullo painted mare as she wades through the crystalline waters and onto the beach. Even without her gaze, the beast can feel the disappointment weighing down upon her shoulders, even as she attempts to brush it off and into the recesses of her mind. If there was one thing he could say about this stranger, she was the epitome of a good mother. ’might just have to keep that in mind…’ he thinks, brushing away the smirk that threatens to tug the corners of his whiskered lips upward. Autumn was still far away and from the resentment she seemed to harbor for Promise’s sire, Annubis doubted he had any hopes of bridging that gap anytime soon. Years maybe, if the gods so saw fit.

She is careful with her words as she describes this… Sigurdr stallion. Small ears perk forward at the soothing tone of her voice but something in the delivery belies the pain she endured. Perhaps it was a bit cruel to bring her back to Paradise.

For the first time, a flash of guilt crosses his gaze as the beast turns to meet her eyes. Hymn draws Promise close, drawing comfort in the nearness of her daughter and reawakening the tender smile on his lips. Right or wrong, good or bad, cocky or presumptuous, they were here now and even if he were to offer them freedom, Promise was in no shape for another swim, regardless of how energetic she tried to appear.

He clears his throat and shoves away that particular train of thought in hopes of brightening the mood. Golden ooids dance as he trots clear of the foam-flecked waves and gives his hide a quick shake. Small, fluted lobes tilt forward amid the water-logged tendrils of his mane as the beast drops his head to bring his gaze level with the young girl, mindful of her mother’s cautious presence. ”You see that tree there?” he asks her, pointing his small, dark muzzle toward a nearby tree whose bright red-pink flowers stretched out over the soft sandy beach, casting a welcome reprieve from the growing heat of the midday sun. He dares a quick glance up at Hymn before continuing, ”That’s a mountain apple tree. The fruit are super sweet and delicious, especially this time of year. I know for a fact that if you hang around long enough, the pair of Toucans that spend their evenings in those higher branches will drop quite a few down…” he continues, a chuckle lingering in his throat as he straightens with a smile. ”They only drop them for the horses they like anyway.” he teases with a mischievous wink, glancing again at Hymn. ”Maybe we can even talk them into giving your mom a few. IF she cracks a smile first.” he says, giving his broad head a toss as a hearty chuckle rumbles deep in his breast. If it was the last thing he did, he would somehow convince her he was not like the one who left her behind…