She watched with gentle amusement as Thorgal played with the water, who quickly stopped out of embarrassment. It warmed her heart to see him so jolly. It had been a difficult and reluctantly decision to take him away from Nerine in the first place, for she was unsure what would happen. Whether he was still too young and would grow weary of the journey, or if they came across anything dangerous. Apparently there were creatures in Beqanna that would be less than shy about taking a foal while their mother wasn’t looking.
Roseen wasn’t sure she wanted to risk it; perhaps she was overprotective of her pride and joy, which was difficult to hold back. But she didn’t want to give him a life that was too sheltered. She wasn’t immortal like a lot of other horses in Beqanna, she wouldn’t live forever. And if she kept him too sheltered, he wouldn’t be able to make it out in the world on his own. He’d be used to relying on her to protect him and tell him what to do. So, to make sure he was able to think for himself and protect himself for the time her short life ends, she would take him on adventures, allow him to see and experience the things in the world he was sure to live around when he’s grown. But that wasn’t to say she still didn’t protect him. She wouldn’t dare put him in any danger.
Her smile brightened at his reply, her tail switching as they continued along the riverside. Thorgal was so energetic, interested in the world and all it had to offer. He was friendly as well, and looked forward to meeting someone new and making friends. He reminded her of herself when she was his age, before her life was turned upside down when her father tossed her out of their herd.
And speaking of making friends, Thorgal didn’t really have any yet, did he? He had met two of his siblings already, but Roseen hadn’t been there to see them, nor Leilan and apparently his own mother and sibling. It was a reunion she regretted missing, but surely there would be other times. And because she wasn’t there, she didn’t know how well he got along with his siblings. But other than them, had he even met anyone?
As if her own thoughts had the power to summon another, a stallion approached with a pleasingly friendly greeting. Stopping in her tracks, she turned her head to look his way, and was admittedly a little shocked by his appearance. His dark coloring, the marks over his pale red eyes and the unnatural line that appeared as a smile over his lips could be a little unsettling to others, but it made Roseen more interested in him instead.
So, she smiled with a friendly dip of her head in greeting. “I don’t mind,” she replied kindly. “I understand how that feels myself, so you may stay as long as you like. My name is Roseen, and this is my son,” she glanced down at Thorgal, with a look in her eyes that would’ve nudged him forward if they could. “Go on, introduce yourself.”
@[Vadar]