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Cheska stood knee deep in the waves, letting the errant breaker crash against her chest. She turned her head skyward, the sun warming her face and toasting her coal black nose. The gentle spray lifted the tangled waves of her mane and seagrass snared in her tail. No matter how many times she returned here, the mother ocean was always as welcoming as she was fierce. Cheska would never grow weary of the sounds and smells or her, nor the deep, perpetual blueness.

The breeze off the ocean was the only relief in the middle of the day. The sun had quickly turned from warm to oppressive in even the early days of the season and it had remained so until dusk brought the slightest relief. Heat had turned the landscape into a shimmering mirage and standing water into cesspools. The mare had never had much mind for the temperature. She wouldn't let something so trivial interfere with her explorations, her engagements, or her three square meals. These were things more important than her trifling comfort.

The lacings of white along her back managed to reflect enough heat to avoid burns as long as she was quick to return to the shade. For now, she took advantage. She'd abandoned her little outcropping under a mercifully cool rock to soak her feet and wash the sand from her hide. The trials for the Earth God had left her hooves aching, but her heart full. She'd been left with hundreds of little golden threads, names and faces and stories that would be woven over the coming weeks into something worth passing on.

She'd been quick once the boat landed to make a return trip to ensure that one of her most favorite places had survived the flood. That it had left her both relieved and giddy. Trees seemed untouched, waves rolled uninterrupted. Even the rocks had maintained vigil at their posts. She'd have nothing but good news to report back to Auriel when their paths crossed next.

Her musing kept her distracted from others who'd come to the relief of the ocean. She was so lost to her thoughts that it took a long moment to notice the thrashing not so far away. She heard, more than saw the massive splash as he broke into the ocean. She assured herself it was just another foal playing, but soon a coppery chestnut body was rolling though the waves. Her anxiety grew each time he disappeared from sight, bobbing out of her vision. Oh, you have chosen the wrong day to drown, m'dear. She wasn't winning any swimming awards any time soon, so she headed back toward the beach. She'd only check, she assured herself, everything was fine.

She reared in the water, twisting around to let the waves carry her back to the beach. Quick enough, she was cantering down the shoreline to close the distance, watching as he spat out water. Oh, he really was drowning. Nerves sent her into a dead gallop and she devoured the distance remaining in a few strides. She tried to recall how one would extract water from lungs, but without the magic to move it, she had no ideas. All she had was an alert.

The magic exploded out of her, still raw and rather untrained. A bird, dark as pitch and roiling like black water, soared into the sky above her head. It circled once, and then exploded into a burst of smoky darkness. If that doesn't get somebody's attention I don't know what will. She came sliding to a stop a few yards from him and noticed with something resembling disappointment that he was not, in fact, dying. Too hot to be savin lives anyway.

She approached as he was appraising his bag. Curiosity swallowed her remaining nerves and left her limbs still once more. "Hey… What'd you find there?" She was careful not to intrude. Some folks were terribly possessive of their trinkets. Instead, she cocked her head from a distance and waited.