Though Tyr had told himself he deserved the punishment of being locked away in the lagoon, even after his capture had faced his demise beneath Tyr’s feathered hooves, he had not been able to get Oswin out of his head. The sweet scent of her often filled his nose, though he knew it was his brain tricking him. When the stallions of the lagoon did not disturb him, the pale stallion often closed his eyes and could envision her beautiful face. Could see her loving eyes and gentle voice. Just as clearly he could see the radiance of her fire and determination as he had seen when they had first met on opposing sides. Who would have ever thought she would have given up her lifestyle and dream in the Peak to be with him.


When the chimera stallion woke from a vivid dream; so vivid it takes him a few moments to realize it wasn’t real, that he wasn’t in the Ridge with Oswin; he knows he cannot take anymore. So, in the darkness of night, when the hush of sleep draped over the lagoon, Tyr carefully makes his way from the filth of the swamp and into the Falls. He spends very little time there, only using the rushing water coming from the Falls to wash away the muck and mire, before he begins his assent of the mountain. Soaking and all.


It was much brighter here in the Peak than it had been when he slipped away from the Lagoon. The moon was visible, washing the rocks and carefully made trails in silver. The stars twinkled as if in mischief and for the first time since Oswin’s departure from the Lagoon, he found himself smiling. This felt exactly as it had, when he would steal away in the night to visit the Prime Minister on her crisp cliffsides and look at the stars. But not always did he look at the stars, until eventually, neither did she.


When he reached the familiar ledge where they would meet in secrecy, he almost expected to see her standing there waiting for him. To look over her shoulder him with a matching twinkle in her eye, knowing they were doing something that they shouldn’t. But the space is empty, and the pale stallion feels a strange clench in his chest. He had asked her to wait on him, but he had not told her how long it would take. No, he should have never expected her to be there, waiting on him.


As Tyr moves over to the edge, his blue-green gaze cast down along the cliffside below, a strange scent enters his nose. At once, he knew it was Oswin and his heart leaped with excitement, but it was mixed with a strange smell that caused dread to clench in his belly. Turning, the stallion followed it until he reached brush a few lengths away from their meeting place, and then hesitated. Fear caused his heart to begin hammering, but slowly, he peeked into the bushes to see his beloved lying there, curled so peacefully among the fronds.


A sob wanted to escape Tyr’s lips, but he found he couldn’t utter a sound. His throat constricted so tightly he couldn’t even breathe. “Oswin” he finally managed to choke out. “My sweet, beautiful Oswin. You did wait for me.” His voice shook, the words barely audible as he spoke.


Tossing his head back to the clear sky washed in beautiful stars, Tyr could not help the cry of total anguish that left his lips.