Aquaria found herself fumbling. Friendship had come easy to her once. Every stranger was a new opportunity to learn about the world, about those who occupied it. Education came at a steep cost. Yes, there was good out there. Kindness, sweetness. The other edge of the sword was less forgiving by far.
She blinked silently at the sea-toned mare. Oceane was one she'd long thought of as a good soul. Time and distance shouldn't change that. It shouldn't, but a leery "what if" hung in the back of her mind. It had been years since they'd last met. Years of radio silence. Why now? What had changed?
The pearly nereid smiled thinly at her guest's comment. Fierce? Ridiculous, more like it. But it was kind of Oceane to say otherwise. She joined the mare in looking at her home, the water sprawling on one side, before the jungles swallowed up the scene on the other. "It's does that," she replied, watching the water lap at the shore for a moment.
Then, something easier. Her tour guide smile hitched back into place, serene as the day. "Of course," she chimed, steering them towards the largest opening in the jungle wall. "There's plenty to see." Her purposeful steps came to a halt quickly at her companion's nd next question.
Ivar. She'd very nearly forgotten Oceane had experienced the notorious stallion for herself once. A feeling like cold water draining from her head forced her to pause before finding her voice again. "No," she murmured, eyes fixed on the trees ahead. "No, he hasn't been a problem for a while now, thank the stars." Almost two years now. It had been almost two years since she'd last seen her daughter.
Clearing get throat roughly, the mermare forced herself to breath. Oceane was not here to watch her break down. She could do this. She could give a tour, be a good hostess and get through this day like she had every one that had come before it.
"Come on, then. I'll show you the waterfalls." She offered, moving again to show off the island. It was a walk she could complete in her sleep. If only.
@[Oceane]