’yer I’ve heard the rumours that he’s taken the shore back’ her affirmation causes a spark of hope to ignite in Ashitaka’s heart. Cursed Dreams had a reason to leave him if she wanted to and yet here she still stands. Though he wasn’t sure why she sounded confused by the subject. Did she not remember the promise he made her?
Then he noticed how her beautiful blue eyes fell from his towards the earth beneath their hooves. As the hackles slightly raised above her spine for a moment Ashitaka thought she was about to kick him. He is somewhat relieved when her next move was to take a step away from him. Now he was the one that felt a mixture of hurt, confusion and guilt. With a few careless words Cursed Dreams was rebuilding the wall around her that he had spent months slowly taking down one brick at a time. She looked like the mare he had first met and not the more relaxed and happy mare that he had found buried beneath the surface.
Her voice was quiet but he was listening intently to catch every word.
‘you want me to leave the inlet?’ Without missing a heartbeat he answered her,
“No.” The one simple word was full of conviction. He could have left it there but he knew that he had hurt her and that she needed his reassurance.
“I don’t want you to leave,” he shook his head before trying to catch her blue eyes again.
“When I invited you to live here,” he explained in a calm and gentle tone,
“I promised that you could leave here if YOU wanted to.” He took a quiet moment to breath before his dark gaze strayed to the nearby pine trees.
“I know that life here isn’t always easy. That last winter was particularly bad. But,” he turned his attention back towards Dreams hoping that she was a little more relaxed now,
“We all made it through that storm together and little Talei probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.” It was a bit stupid to give her a reason to leave rather than convincing her to stay.
“I don’t want you to leave,” he repeated before lowering his head towards her in an apologetic bow,
“and I am sorry if you thought I was asking you to leave.”ASHITAKA
Male. VII. Bay Roan. Hokkaido Horse. 13.3HH. Beta of the Inlet.