The queen wandered the lands, replaying her conversation with the Lady Moon in her head over and over again. It was ok. The snake's death was not her fault, it was Aurelia's fault. Aurelia challenged Kahlua. Aurelia never should have brought the young snake into the fray. Aurelia should have known to stop and seek medical attention for her companion instead of continuing her childish fight for leadership. Aurelia, Aurelia, Aurelia. It was her fault, not Kahlua's. The queen just had to keep telling herself that, because the more she said it the more it became the truth, the more she could believe it, the more she could live with herself instead of call herself murderess and sneak into the shadows. Yes... what she had done had been unforgivable, but it had not been her fault. And, when she began to think of what punishments she deserved, she thought of Evangeline. Queens do not lie with dogs.

But she was distracted from her thoughts when a call came from her borders, filling the forest. A sound.... no. She shook her head in disbelief. It wasn't. There was no way. And yet... The queen's curiosity overtook her and she headed towards the border. She arrived just moments after Brisa, the stallion's name falling from the nurse's lips, the name that Kahlua had not dared to think while she had traveled to this place. Lace. She stopped short, just looking at him. He had been her teacher, then her friend, then her king. As she looked at him now, she was a wreck of emotions and she did not know how to sort any of them out.

She was glad- elated, exuberant, enamored- at his return. He had been kind to her, taught her, guided her in her pursuits of crafting. She had enjoyed his company, had gladly called him king when he had risen to the throne and yet... King was not his title now. It belonged to Kaj. Was he here to try to reclaim it? But worse (because she had faith in Kaj's abilities as a warrior), was Mirage back? The dragon queen was... Kahlua shook her head, instantly seeing her demise in the mists that surrounded them all. But Kahlua looked around and she saw no hint of the shadowy mare, none of the darkness that used to follow her like magic, no golden scales glinting in the sunlight. It was only Lace, and so her fears subsided somewhat and she began to smile.

“My friend, we've missed you,” she cooed to him as she closed what distance remained, extending her nose to him, attempting to press it against his neck, to welcome him home without anger at his disappearance. The queen did not mind. Destrier had just returned as well and he had already integrated back into life in the herd. Stepping back, nodding to Brisa in greeting, Kahlua returned her blue gaze to the stallion and willed the wind to blow, to swirl about them, to let Lace know that the Lady Moon still loved him and would welcome him into the herd again. “How are you? What has kept you from us?” And then, softer, because the question still hinted in the back of her mind... “Have you seen Mirage?”