It was hard to feel like she belonged and as she flew above Nerine she couldn’t help but look down upon the other residence with growing loneliness. Though there were many potential companions, but all seemed to look upon her with pity. She did not want to be pitied.
Black and blue reminders of her past still dotted along the pale outline of her body, though most had faded to an unsightly green purple. It no longer hurt for her to walk, though, these days, she found more pleasure in flying. As she circled above the Amazonian territory flashes of all that had transpired since her arrival flooded her mind. She was so confused. In her desperation she had fled to Nerine hardly without knowing and, now, she felt almost like a glorified prisoner. Too often she imagined the joy she would feel wandering Beqanna alone.
Instinctively her gaze drifts to the sand below where a particularly brightly colored foal chased a crab away from the shoreline. Kiwi. It was still hard to adjust to the knowledge that she was not alone nor would she be for a long time. Kiwi was the singular bright light in her otherwise dull world of confusion. The green fillies playfulness was infectious and never ceased to draw Nymf out of her depression. Even weeks after her adoption, she still found herself watching Kiwi only to imagine how her own son would spend his long afternoons. Despite all of that, she had found herself loving her new daughter in a way that caught her by surprise.
Exhaling, Nymf tilted herself downward towards the plain of dead seagrass. Winter was upon them now, as evident by the cold wind that wound through her copper tipped mane. Casually, she walked towards the shallow cliffside to watch her filly a little closer as she continued on with her game.
Nerine was safe, that fact couldn’t be argued. The Amazonian queen was a fierce leader and was determined to protect all those who swore fealty to her – something that Nymf appreciated greatly. For the sake of Kiwi, she knew that she had to find her place to secure their spot amongst them. There was no better place for a filly to grow up. Here, she would learn how to protect herself against the evils of Beqanna. She could grow strong and brave and true and Nymf would do her best to play her part.
Feeling slightly more relaxed, the cream mare lowered her pink muzzle to sniff the grass. As she prepared to take a bite a low guttural whinny called for her attention. Her head snapped up and her ears pricked forward as the unfamiliar scent of the stallion filled her nostrils.
Panic filled her as one ear swiveled towards the sound of her daughter’s carefree giggles.
Nymf’s whole grew rigid as she studied the man, who’s own gaze was glued to her. He was tall, bulky and bay. All things that were both familiar and strange to her. In the depths of her memory she remembered the sound of her mate’s murderer as he barreled after her. He was large too and the earth felt as if it shook with every hoof-fall.
The smile upon his lips was kind – almost as if he meant it to be some kind of reassurance to her, though her mind rejected the attempt at calming her fears. Hestia had warned that many travelers passed through Nerine, a good majority of them male, and, most of the time, Nymf had managed to avoid their notice. But this one had escaped hers and she had allowed herself to become vulnerable to him.
@[Eros]