There were half moons trailing his steps as he wandered along the shore, the salty Frostfall winds tossing and tangling his crimson locks. He wasn't quite sure why he wasn't further inland of the sandy island, where the chilled and furiously crashing waters couldn't affect him, but here he was. Glancing back toward the way he had come, Rift was met with only his hoof prints and a thin mist that hung like a spectre over the beach. Head hung low over the sands, Rift allowed his lips to scrape lightly over the wetted sands, marveling at the plethora of scents that gathered beneath his hooves.

Here he could smell the echo of his King, there the fading essence of an anonymous herd mate, there a hint of barnacle and Ranjiri. His lips pulled into a faint grin at the thought of his gold-limned friend; where had she been these past few weeks? Not that it was uncommon for the ruby eyed mare to run off for lengths at a time, but this particular bout seemed to be especially long. With a huff, the thin stallion straightened and allowed his vision to wander across the wide strip of sea to his left, the mainland a faint dark smudge on  the horizon.

A sigh blew from sand-littered nares as he gazed at the churning grey waters of his newfound home; but what was that? A small speck was flitting over the sea, tossed at times dangerously close to the slate surface. Halting, Rift felt the muscles in his shoulders tense as his wings lifted from their place at his sides. He watched the tiny creature battle it's way through the seaside gusts, wings flapping fast enough to be a blur as it neared. Cocking his head to the side, Rift's narrowed eyes suddenly flew wide and he found himself sprinting into the frigid surf to meet Petyr.

Rift was knee-deep in the chilled waters as Petyr landed on his forehead, yanking at the crimson hairs of his forelock. Panic rising in his chest, the scarlet stallion unfurled his wings and found himself airborne before he had even finished processing what had happened. As the sea became smaller and the Dragon's Throat shrunk behind them, Rift remained silent, refusing to allow the cloud of worry that hung over his thoughts to descend into his being.

~*~*~

Beneath Petyr's guidance - a combination of pulling the hairs of Rift's forelock and various chirps - the pair found themselves steadily descending toward a smudge on the Halycon Flats. Scarlet eyes crawled over every inch of the chocolate spattered yearling and only after he had deduced that she was unhurt did Rift allow himself to relax. The flowers that sprung up beneath her hooves framed her reflection and, as he landed softly beside her, he noted the sadness and anger that filled her expression.

With a trill, Petyr flitted back to his place upon Naerys' withers and began to preen, a satisfied glint in his beaded eyes. Brows knitting together in frustration, Rift turned so that Naerys' rump brushed against his left shoulder while her shoulder pressed against his flank. He detested that she had been forbidden to see him, that through the anger and suspicion he had inspired, he could do nothing to protect her.

Yet here he was, standing side to side with the child he felt such a yearning to care for.

"Don't look up, remember, your mother forbid you to see me. If you don't see me, are you really breaking the rules?" His voice was soft and light, but there was a backdrop of deeper emotion hidden there, "What has happened, Naerys? Why do you look so torn?" Moving his head so that he could bump the girl with his nose, Rift was split between whooping for joy and sobbing with relief that she was here, that she was whole and otherwise uninjured.

All he knew was that his chest didn't ache any more at the sight of her and that she was something to fight for.