Her heart beat wildly as she approached – the happiness she felt was so overwhelming – and it only calmed when they embraced, breathing in his scent once more. She knew that some day she would see them all again, but that it was so soon was more than even she had hoped for. And here! Oh she was so fortunate. First Aleksandr and now Mikey – the two stallions she loved were now here with her. Loved that is, in ways as different as the two stallions were from each other.

It was an embrace she never wanted to end, everything about it so perfect. The serenity of their surrounding soothing her even when he pulled back so that they could look at each other. Oh she missed him so much.

He mentioned, almost sheepishly, the storm and how he had tried to find her. Touched as she was, she looked at him with concern – “Did you?” and looked him over, checking for wounds where he might have hurt himself. That storm was bigger, dangerous. It came so late in the year that none of them had been prepared. She should have stayed in the jungle of Ferraden that day, not gone travelling.

In her examination of her friend, she did not find anything obvious. Had he followed her here? That would be just like him, wanting to make sure she was safe. She owed him so much – more than she knew, those memories long since erased. “Oh Mikey, always my guardian angel.” Her tone turned teasing then and she reached out again to nip lightly at his mane with affection. “I was so foolish to go out in the storm, I would have never forgiven myself if you’d been hurt.”

Now that she was close, she was unwilling to step away from his familiar form – enjoying the warmth of his presence despite the heat. It was more than physical heat – he made her feel safe. He was a familiar face in an unfamiliar land. Helovia was beautiful and in time, she knew, she might grow to love it. But there was still so much that her heart missed. "Do you know if my son is alright? I tried to get back..." Her shaky voice cut off. Was she a terrible mother, standing here in Helovia and growing attached to the land, rejoicing in the faces she recognzied, while somewhere a colt was growing up without his mother.

If there was no news, she would leave soon. Perhaps even within the day. Maybe it would take months to find Nocturne again, it would be a risk, but it was her son.

Yes, much to miss - but the presence of Mikey was comforting. Her best friend! Here with her again. She would move from him if he wished – for now she could not yet make her legs do any such thing. Those emerald eyes took him in, from those kind sky eyes to his brilliant white wings… wait, his wings had not been that magnificent before. They had been singed. She had changed upon leaving Nocturne, feeling the dryad part of her disappear – the flowers in her hair, the wooden quality of her hooves – how did he change? “There’s something different about you.” She pointed out in a murmur, trying to figure what it was exactly. He seemed… healthier. The singed edges to his wings gone, and in his eyes – a sadness that had always been lurking there in Nocturne was smaller.

Then it dawned on her - eyes widening. “Mikey are you…” How could she phrase it? The word, what he was, had never suited the dunskin stallion. He was so unlike the other demons she knew, she doubted there was any darkness in him at all.

It had never mattered to her. He had been honest with her about what he was right from their first meeting and if it were still true she would never turn him away. But wouldn’t it be wonderful for him? To be free? Unable to figure out how best to end her sentence, deep green looks into bright blue and looked for the answer.