Mesec’s laughter joined Ampere’s as she accepted his invitation to play and dance among the storm clouds - the sound dissipating all doubt that existed in him just moments ago. He wondered if he would ever stop second-guessing his actions around her, wondered if he could have the courage to bridge the gap between them and not drift away again as quickly. But even those thoughts were too heavy to be carried up here as they alternated between chasing each other, gentle nips and touches passing between them. Each time the wind brought her voice, her laughter, to him he only felt lighter.

He would have stayed in flight with her as long as there was still energy enough to pump those wings but that energy was failing and, thankfully, Ampere slowed and signalled that the time had come to descend. Tired as his muscles were from the exertion he was reluctant to leave the sky and the false-sunlight they created there in the night as they laughed and played.

Back on the sands, with his silver-lined wings folded and his four hooves on the ground, he still felt light and smiled warmly at the gentle wuff of air from her. The initial awkwardness gone, and only his usual awkwardness remaining, he returned the gesture with a soft touch of his own.

They fall back into silence but as Mesec walked beside Ampere, he noticed that she was fidgeting - her wings not staying settled and looking as though she were trying to sort something out, trying to find the words to say something. He watched her with one silver eye - focusing on their dark path ahead but wondering all the time what it could be that was on her mind. Still, as was his way, he did not ask. He waited patiently, believing that if there was something that Ampere wanted to say she would bring it up - and he would not harass her to speak her mind before she was ready.

And finally, the words came and they surprised him. She asked after his mother and whether he had spoken to her since she was exiled. Though his ears flicked back in aggravation at the topic he didn’t refuse to answer her. Would he have refused Ampere anything? He avoided speaking about his mother whenever he could but it wasn’t a topic that he could block out forever. He wasn’t a colt anymore, ignoring his problems would not make them go away.

The storm opened upon them, as if beckoned by the topic. But silver eyes were not watching the angry turn of the waves - they were focused on Ampere. “No, I haven’t. I avoided the Edge for that reason.” He could have, he knew that, but he had not wanted to and he had been afraid to go seek her out. He did not want to hear more of how what she had done had been right or hear the word balance when it was used to justify murder. There was no annoyance in his voice when he asked his question, just solemn curiosity. Had something been brewing in his mother’s absence that worried Ampere? “Why does her absence trouble you? I do not think we will be without her for long… she’s not the type to be kept down.” Sooner or later, she would find her way back - she was, after all, part of the balance that governed Helovia. Her brothers couldn't keep her in exile forever and Mesec had simply assumed she was trying to weasel her way out if it already.