Alysanne didn’t shift underneath the gaze of the shorter white mare but smiled faintly back, curious about what would be seen and said. Whether or not it was all made up was of little consequence, it felt like there was magic in the air as the aurora danced overhead. Even Hemlock was a little curious, his dark eyes joining Alysanne’s emerald ones to watch the soothsayer as she closed her eyes and cocked her head as though she were listening to something.

As Aisling began to speak, the mist shifted and started to form pictures. Alysanne recognized herself, or what she imagined must be herself among the smoky trees, and felt a deep blush race across her skin at the appearance and dance with an indistinct stallion. Before she could wonder whether love, that elusive and strange concept of an actual soul mate, was what the story was telling he faded away.

Well, that was about right. Isn’t that what they all did?

The tale and the story didn’t stop there, however. Once she caught onto what was being said, to what was being shown, a gentle gasp escaped her. “Oh.”

A foal. Her foal.

The smoke-foal was looking right at her as it peeked around the pegasus in the image with it. Hemlock started dancing back and forth on his feet as he caught on as well, hooting with delight at the idea of a new baby.

The painted mare stretched out her muzzle toward the little scene, wanting to reach out to that tiny smoke foal, but it disappeared as it looked at her. But she couldn’t feel too disappointed because of the hope that was swelling within her heart at the sight. She couldn’t even think of what she could possibly say or do to thank Aisling for this gift of hope.

Alysanne adored being a mother and she was infatuated with the idea of having another foal to care for. That maybe this time she would get it right, that having another foal would fix things within her family and within her. Okay so the part about that indistinct stallion was a bit of an issue - there certainly wasn't anyone in her life right now and she was convinced that she was too old to get wrapped into nonsense like relationships anymore.

But that was a whole thing she didn't want to get into right now.

“Thank you so much.” She whispered quietly, still smiling despite the tears that were forming in her eyes. Tears of joy, she hoped as she backed out of the circle to give others a chance at hearing some good news from the sweet white mare.