Common

It was weird to think that she'd now spent more of her life without her twin than with. Once, they'd been so close they could finish not just each other's sentences, but their schemes and dreams and tricks. They'd driven their mother near made with their shenanigans, which was a feat given Cicek's legendary patience.

Now, it was just her.

For better or worse, it had forced Thistle to gain some measure of decency. Her tongue was still sharp, but she'd fashioned a crude protective sheath to store it in when she wasn't lashing someone to ribbons. She'd even managed to make - and lose - a few friends along the way, but mostly it was just her.

As autumn began its slow cross of the islands, she felt herself growing dissatisfied with the direction her life had taken. She'd never much envisioned herself a mother the way some of her other siblings seemed want to do, but she'd always imagined that she would get there... eventually. That someone would eventually convince her to settle down somewhere and she'd have a reason to try out that life path. Instead, she'd had rather poor luck in finding a home, which had been compounded by her previous lack of interest.

However, as winter loomed on the horizon, she found herself loath to face another one alone. The Cove was no longer held by family, but even if twas, she was not particularly eager to return to her childhood haunts. Her sire had been a prolific producer, and her mother hadn't exactly resisted often so Thistle had been summarily surrounded by siblings from the moment she breathed until she finally left. She wanted something different, something else.

Thus, on a quiet, average autumn day, Thistle entered the Commons despite every piece of advice her father had ever given her. Of course, she was not the nubile, naive little mare he'd been so worried for, but a wiser and sharper adult. Her green gaze cut across the few individuals dotted about, but finding them of no interest, turned her attention instead to grazing watchfully, waiting for someone interesting.