Falls

The autumn breeze stirred her dark, tangled mane, a welcome relief from the unseasonably heavy heat. As a queen of the North, she was unaccustomed to such warmth. On Tinuvel, even the warmest days held a crisp bite, a legacy of the cool pine forests and icy peaks that dominated the land. Here, however, the air pressed down on her spotted hide, thick and stifling, a stark contrast to the invigorating chill she knew so well.

Leaning against the rough bark of a tree, she scanned the few unfamiliar faces drifting by. Unnoticed, she turned inward, her thoughts immediately settling on Killian, her youngest. His relentless questioning about his father had become a constant weight. She knew she could no longer deflect his curiosity. The truth was a source of deep shame and guilt. She inhaled sharply, the air hissing across her whiskered lips. In a moment of agonizing pain, she had found solace in the arms of Solomon's son.

A wave of longing washed over her. She missed Solomon, the feel of his skin, the sound of her name on his lips. She was lonely; his memory was fading. Each image became more distant, consumed with dark rims that made it harder to recall his voice or the playful twist of his lips.

Her tattered ears twitched amidst the thicket of her dark red mane, drawn by the soft murmur of voices nearby. A welcome distraction. Two figures stood close, their skin still glistening from the swim, one leaning heavily on the other, weakened by their journey. She had been like them once, arriving on these Isles a young, ambitious woman. But years had weighed heavily on the Queen, forcing her to choose her path, her words, and her companions with increasing care.

She watched as they sought rest beneath a mighty oak, one collapsing at the other’s hooves without hesitation. Promising herself detachment, she nevertheless pushed away from her tree, her heavy hooves rustling through the fallen leaves. Snippets of their conversation – "jungle," "desert" – suggested this was not their first visit to the Isles. Her curiosity, against her better judgment, was piqued.

As she drew closer, Daciana cleared her throat quietly to get the attention of the spotted stallion standing protectively over the other. "Is she okay?" she asked, gesturing towards the collapsed figure."The swim can take quite the toll," she mused aloud, she knew the arduous journey well.

The other figure stirred, quickly regaining her feet. Daciana watched with quiet admiration. "I did not mean to disturb you," she said with a gentle smile.