Nayl secluded herself for days (but how it felt like weeks) as her stomach bulged and churned with life. She fled to the dark crevices of Nerine where her scent could be cleansed by the salty breeze. There was only the sound of crashing waves and cawing seagulls as she nestled into a bed of beach grass. Here, she relaxed and drank in both the sights and sounds until a looming storm mustered her into the mouth of a cave. It was in that night, alone with lightning illuminating the sky, that Castile was born. She has been endlessly with him since, their bodies nearly merged into one as he shadows her curiously and observes any and all interactions. He is fascinated by her, his fierce mother, but the world is what also enthralls him. There is an open sky that one day he will soar through, and an ocean that he may explore when he is of age.
Bright-eyed and fascinated, Castile hardly notices where mother is going. His ears – and in turn, his legs – obediently follow her as she saunters nonchalantly along the beach. Damp sand caresses their hooves for a fleeting moment before the evidence is destroyed with another small wave lapping at the shore.
”Heartfire,” suddenly Castile hears his mother’s voice, but she isn’t saying his name. Jerking abruptly to a halt, he first looks at her before his mismatched eyes sweep over to this mare that has captured Nayl’s attention. ”Hello,” he interrupts with a boyish grin, his bottle-length tail sweeping curiously from side-to-side. With a humored sigh, Nayl glances down to her son then levels her attention again on the mare. ”His name is Castile,” their resemblance is uncanny and so there’s no reason to emphasize their relation. Alas, she did not find Heartfire to introduce the boy or to even mention his father. Instead, it’s to commend her, lure her into this life and let it sink its claws into her soul. ”Your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed,” she says coyly, but with obvious praise in her voice. ”I think Nerine suits you,” a grin tugs at the velvet corners of her mouth, her eyes aflame, ”and I can see you quickly gaining rank.” It’s enjoyable to see someone working, to see a passion in their actions; it seems to be a rarity nowadays.
”I’m hoping you could potentially help me in changing some things about Nerine. It would incite some interest, I imagine. It would redefine us and differentiate us from the other lands…” and she trails off thoughtfully, almost not noticing Castile tucking underneath her to nurse.
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