the ocean loved her and knew everything that made her.

and every time she’d walk to the shore,

she’d smile at the ocean

because the waves told her story.

Despite the tragedy of recent events, the blue maiden will always feel a sense of comfort and happiness when she returns home. Even though the mountain valley seems a little darker, a little smaller, without the watchful eye of the Reaper, she is sure that the Basin and its people will recuperate. Looking out over the lush slopes and haloed peaks, Tiamat’s smile softens into one of tenderness. From the corner of her eye, she can’t quite read what Wessex might be thinking, but the larger mare’s words are enough to warm the Mender’s heart. Tiamat can only hope that the Basin will offer her new friend all that it has given her.

When Wessex continues, throwing words of jest into the cold air, Tiamat’s expression shifts accordingly. The lines of affection animate into a countenance of mirth, and the sunlight catches the curve of her lips as they widen, her grin brightening in time with her eyes. “You’d think so!” The sea mare shakes her head as a giggle escapes between her words. “Everyone actually has to get together and huddle close. Hope you don’t mind a little bit of cuddling,” she tries to hold her expression steady for a moment, but she is too caught up in her own humor. Winking playfully at her dappled company, Tiamat laughs more freely, imagining how Wessex would react if cuddling together, indeed, was the case.

“I tease, but the herd is actually good about watching out for one another. The winters do get frightfully cold,” she nods a few times to herself, knowing well how bitter winter’s bite can be. Even so, despite her satin skin, the ocean mare has never felt as though she’s had to suffer. Her shoulders lift and fall in a sigh of satisfaction, a happy glance cast towards the heavier mare before she extends a leg forward, ushering them into their home.

Fortunately, it is then that a shadowed figure comes to greet them—the stallion’s dark body is stark against the day’s pastel colors, and easily spotted by the blue mare. She calls out to him cheerfully. “Erebos! Just the man I wanted to see,” a sapphire nose is extended towards the Reaper’s son as the distance diminishes between them, noticing (not for the first time) how much of his father is in him.

Clearing her throat and leaning a step back before her heart is caught up in another storm of emotion, Tiamat smiles, looking from Erebos to Wessex. When the stallion asks about their new arrival, the sea maiden bites her tongue for a moment, allowing the taller mare the opportunity to introduce herself. Only when names are exchanged, does Tiamat allow herself to chime in again. “Wessex has just joined the Basin—she would like to protect our borders with you and the other warriors,” she gives the dappled mare an encouraging glance. Just by appearances alone, it would seem that Wessex will serve with them well. “Erebos is our General,” Tiamat clarifies, knowing that he is the one Wessex will need to look to for specific instruction.

“Speech.”