like the ocean kissed the sky,
at the most beautiful place under the sun

“I love the ocean!”

The blue mare crows with honest enthusiasm, the smile on her lips widening enough to reach and brighten her eyes. Of course, that might just be the understatement of the century. Tiamat isn’t quite sure if she would ever be able to put into words how much she loves the sea (accurately, at least), considering that every fiber of her being pulses and sways with the ocean’s tides. They are connected after all, family, bound together with the most beautiful and pure love of all. She is the ocean’s daughter, and she loves her Papa with the unadulterated and endless love that any child gives their parent (as ignorant as she is to the world’s black secrets, unaware that some families might not be as happy as her own).

With her long tail flickering behind her in her blissful excitement, Tiamat focuses again on the bright, one-winged colt. “Although I don’t think I’ve ever met a whale before…what was it like?” Her white eyes are round with curiosity, genuinely wanting to hear all about his experience. The creatures of her father ocean—or anything born from nature’s beauty—is nothing short of fascinating for the blue mare. She has a curiosity that can hardly be quenched, a heart of kindness and healing, and a desire to share it with the world. Everyone is a friend, as far as she is concerned.

However, the white clouds that had descended around her are suddenly blustered away, fading into wisps when the boy’s voice becomes bold and challenging. Tiamat’s brow knits together in concern, her attention wavering between the two children before settling on Zero. Her tongue grows heavy with the weight of words, wanting to comfort him and assure him that Galiel harbors no ill will, but he continues before she is able to speak.

Her spirits are buoyed once more by his enthusiasm, having nothing but faith that the Gods will be kind to him. Although their recent acts have left her confidence in them shaken, Tiamat doesn’t—cannot—doubt that they could possibly turn away a boy as bubbly as Zero. Exhaling quietly from her nostrils, the young mare presses her lips gently to Galiel’s poll when she admits her inability to fly, attempting to assure the filly that she needn’t be embarrassed. “You are both young—you have plenty of time to earn your wings and learn to use them,” she smiles encouragingly to them both. Of course, Tiamat knows next to nothing about flying. She has never flown herself, despite her desire to do so someday, but surely it takes some time to learn? She can’t imagine that newborn foals would have the capability to (successfully) throw themselves into the air, but she could be wrong. In any case, her point is to make both Galiel and Zero feel better again.

“Peel it off?” The ocean mare questions when Zero explains his metal side, her pretty head tilting and her eyes watching him closely. It doesn’t necessarily look comfortable for him to pull off the titanium, but he doesn’t seem to be in any pain while he does it, so Tiamat’s heart is relieved of her worry. Her lips parting in amazement, she laughs airily when he proceeds to mold them to his friend. “It looks like Squishy will be as dashing as you in no time!” She shakes her head with a smile, eyes glancing briefly to Galiel. “That’s a very unique gift, young man,” she nods her head to him, truly amazed, eyeing the metal on his body before she continues. “Where do you come from?” It is directed to both of them, fluted ears pricked attentively.


“Speech.”