"Evangeline"

Her heart seemed to shudder at the very sound of her name spoken in his voice, a voice she hadn't heard in too long a time. She stared, emerald eyes wide and disbelieving that he was actually standing there, in the flesh, and not a product of her dreams and memories. He stepped toward her and it only solidified that he was not a dream or an apparition. Apparitions didn't make noise when they moved, didn't bend blades of grass or leave impressions upon the earth. A noise, something similar to a choked sob sounded in the back of Evangeline's throat and tears began to gather at the edges of her eyes. How long had it been since she'd cried? Since Validino had left her in the middle of the night? No, she didn't even cry then because she had been so used to everyone she loved abandoning her, so much so that she began to expect it from everyone.

This was the first time anyone had ever come back.

"Ruske." She whispered his name, lids fluttering as she tried in vain to blink back her tears. "You came back." Tallis nudged the mare mentally and she took a step forward. Then another. And another. The fluttering in her chest became a dull ache as she realized that Ruske was ill and she no longer had any means of trying to help him. Whatever healing magic she'd had in Isilme had disappeared when she'd crossed its borders to escape from certain death. All she could do to help him was to find someone that could heal.

The orange dragon trilled gently to Ruske then spread his wings and was airborne again, circling overhead as the two reunited while a stranger looked on.

"I missed you." The autumn mare said as she tucked her head beneath Ruske's neck, her neck curling around his chest so her head rested against his shoulder. The beat of his heart was another reassurance that he was actually there and she hadn't finally gone completely crazy in her loneliness. The other stallion's words reached her ears and she turned her head toward him as it registered that he was trying to take Ruske away. A protective jealousy shined in her eyes as she regarded him and his offer to take Ruske away to only the Gods knew where to 'heal' him.

It was not in her nature to be outright rude, nor was it in her nature to be jealous or possessive, but it struck a nerve. She had only just gotten Ruske back by her side and someone was already trying to spirit him away. "I can take you to a healer." She offered her friend. "The Edge has plenty of healers, you'll be better in no time."

Just come with me.