Their voices were soft as I reached them, bear whispers on the wind that made me strain to hear even when I was just upon them. However, I did not rectify my presence with anything other than the sound of my heartbeat.

I could recognize Aaron from just about anywhere and when I finally fell in alongside him, I nodded before adding, “I trust you’ve been well Glazier?” However, it was a short introduction by way of preparing for the formalities that would obviously follow. Our new Glazier accompanied a beautiful chocolate mare with ivory threads that were tipped in the same earthy color of her skin. She appeared to be shaken or perhaps as the very least, tired. But after lifting my face to the wind that wafted her sweet scent over my nose, I suddenly understood why.

She was of the Foothills.

I murmured softly in greeting and then glanced to Aaron for confirmation. I needed to know where he was headed with his company because it could only mean one of two things. “Welcome dear, I hope that you’ve been able to make yourself comfortable. I’m Thor.” I didn’t feel the need to make her endure the long rambling of how grand the Edge was or how exceptional our family was because I knew that those things would prove themselves over time. Instead, I was more interested in figuring out what exactly Aaron had said and where this conversation was going (I guess I could be quite nosey at times).

“On another note, I do hope you’ll be joining us here in the Edge. I’m quite certain that Aaron is more than capable of helping you settle but if you’ve ever a need, you are more than welcome to call on me.” A soft smile seemed to tug my lips apart in spite of the severity that I felt in their presence. I suppose that one could say that I was ashamed that I’d interrupted their affairs, but it was the least I could do in the way of becoming a welcoming committee of one- or perhaps curiosity really had gotten the best of me.

I thought of Essetia and how she often nosed her way into situations not of her concern and how much it irritated me… I believed that right then, standing with Aaron and the unnamed chocolate mare that reminded me all too much of Tamira made my heart soften. My poor child; I assume that she inherited her sense of curiosity from me and somehow I had thought it a smart idea to scold her for it. It was then that I decided that I needed to be easier on her before blaming her for traits that (in some cases) she had inherited from me.

But before I lost myself entirely to thoughts of my intimate family, I decided that I’d better find a way to place a name to the striking mare that still remained unknown to me. It was obvious that she and Aaron were close enough, but I needed to justify her presence here just as much as she did. “Do you have a name my dear?” My warm brown eyes found hers and for a moment they rested there, trying to surface the emotions that hid well beneath the gleaming of her gaze. Did she come here simply because it was the only place left or did she come here with reason? I was content to find out over time if she indeed wished to stay, but at some point, I would seek her council privately and consult her inner workings.