He meant to return to the forest directly, but after being unceremoniously dumped in the meadow, he chose to remain there to contemplate the consequences of his actions in the past and what they meant for his future. Uncertainty still maintains its grip on the old boy, but one discovery has him on the move again.
Now that he knows of the resurrection of old lands, a relentless image of a new journey barrages his thoughts, drowning out the inner turmoil that had been bothering him. The only place he might find any familiarity is the Chamber, though he knew it when it was still called the Chamber of Evil.. how much had changed along with its name? Perhaps another journey is in order, one to visit each of the ‘new’ provinces, to meet more of Beqanna’s residents, to find something.
But first, he must find someone.
Though he has kept her waiting for longer than intended, he plans for a circuitous route to find that watery border where they’d met some time ago. He wants to test the capabilities of his new wings, to explore the countryside with an aerial view he’d never believed possible. As if sentient and omniscient, the wings spread wide as he considers his flight and he takes a moment to admire them, for they are quite attractive and he has always been drawn to comely things.
He launches into the air, somewhat ungainly, but he is still accustoming himself to the mechanics. It will get better in time. For now, he only thinks about the cool touch of the breeze, marvels at the way the sun seems warmer now that he is closer to it, studies the treetops as they pass beneath him. It’s a freeing feeling unlike anything he’d ever experienced before.
And he likes it.
He soars over the entire length of the meadow, down to where the river feeds into the ocean and stone structures rise forlornly in the background. He had planned to take a quick jaunt over the briny waters, and though he would have passed them on his way back, something compels him to turn toward the formations now. He lands far more nimbly than he’d risen and glances around, wondering what is so familiar about this place. Several minutes pass and something itches at the back of his mind, but nothing sparks a memory, so he turns and begins to follow the river north to his true destination.
Eventually, the tree line at his side begins to thicken and he knows he is close. His timing could not be more perfect, as she appears rather suddenly not far ahead of his current position. He does not call out, but instead quickens his pace to reach her that much faster. As he pulls up to her, he can nearly taste the agitation that floods the air surrounding the golden mare. It causes him to stop in his tracks, but there is no time to process his thoughts, as she whips around to face him.
From the moment she speaks, he knows that he was wise in coming back for her. Kelpie or not, he finds her to be an intriguing creature and wants to know more about her. He nods at her quip about seeing him here. ”Well, I did say that I’d come back, did I not?” There’s a playful glint in his eyes that belies the serious quality of his tone. He stands quite still while she evaluates the additions to his appearance and chuckles lightly at her next words. ”As you should be, I wouldn’t do it for anyone else.” He stretches his neck towards her and bumps his nose against hers. ”It is nice to see you again, Adriana.”
And he means it.
They may not be entirely familiar to each other, but there is a sense of comfort in what they forged thus far. He looks past her to the same hazy darkness she had been studying just moments before. ”So, what do you think of the other changes that have happened around here?” He does not know the cause for her distress, so he does not pose his question in cruelty, but in genuine curiosity so that he might lead into what he really wishes to ask of her. And so he looks expectantly at her, not realizing that he may have opened a can of worms.