No dreams within her heart,
but dreams of love.

Fluted ears perk forward when the guttural sound of the stallion’s voice rumbles through their short moment of silence, the mare’s dainty head rising a few degrees. He talks about the chill of Frostfall and the cooler weather of the Basin, to which Tiamat nods in agreement, although her attention then shifts to the midnight blue mare. “And there are several ways to stay warm on colder nights,” she continues, seeing fit to inform Akeldama of this, if only to assure her that the harsher winters are not unbearable. Being a warm-blooded creature herself, and not built for the snowy climates, she has survived just fine. “There are the caves, usually several fires are going, and of course the hot springs. It’s lovely!”
 
The ocean mare crows wistfully of her—their—homeland, quite eager to return to its mountainous peaks and twinkling skies. She can’t remember exactly how long she has been away; she has found that a lot of her recent memory is clouded, replaced instead by the vivid, excruciatingly clear horrors that still flash and blister in her mind. All of the blood, pain, and guilt…she still feels it festering with in her, flaring up into panic if she dares to ponder on its terrors for too long.
 
It was only a dream.
 
Right?
 
Hearing her heartbeat beginning to throb again in her eardrums, Tiamat presses closer to Akeldama and Nox, comforted by their closeness and more terrified than ever of being alone. She continues forward with them, her cloven hooves finding their way easier along the steep, rocky terrain with every journey, focusing on the sound of her breaths and their hoof beats to keep her mind from wandering too far. Casting her white eyes about, the young unicorn takes note of the frozen wasteland around them—her gaze widening a little when she sees the jagged ice spikes ahead.
 
She has never entered the Basin from this way before—she usually takes the path just around the corner, where the pine trees grow together—but she doesn’t question Nox’s leadership and follows him graciously. Looking at the coarse lines of his face, he seems proud to be leading them, and she likes seeing him happy—it is good for him. “Thank you very much, Nox,” she smiles to the black stallion at his cautioning to them, grateful for his concern of their wellbeing. Her cloven hooves slip very little on the ice, but she watches over Akeldama, assuming that the white-spattered unicorn is not accustomed to this terrain, and is relieved when they all reach the frosty peaks safely.
 
Just as the day slips into evening, they pass beneath the empty eyes of the metal Sentinels and the valley of the Basin opens up before them. Tiamat smiles broadly, thankful to be home. Her white eyes flickering to the antlered mare when she speaks, her grin widens, and an airy chuckle slips from her lips. “I’m glad you think so, Akeldama—I know it is a perfect fit for myself and Nox here—and I’m sure you’ll feel at home in no time. And don’t worry,” she inclines her head playfully, “we’ll be here to help you, and there are many others who are just as gracious. You’re not alone.” Her interests for Akeldama are nothing but genuine. She feels so happy and content within these mountains—she would want nothing else but for her newfound friend to feel the same.


“Speech.”