Ree.

It was by coincidence that the bay mare was within hearing distance of the oceans crashing waves. With each day she grew more curious, more inquisitive, traveling further and further away from the safety of the Dragon’s Throat. There was something exciting about adventure, enthralling about journeying from place to place, stumbling upon new findings, experiencing new places and sights. Never in her life has she seen the ocean, and now she stood on the sandy shores, the frothy surf swirling around her hooves. She stares down with childish delight at her reflection, hazel eyes bright and mirthful, and with cautious intrigue she drags one fore hoof through the water as it rushes up to meet her, sending the white foam splashing through the moonlit air.

There was nothing greater than the simplicity of joy, untainted and pure, as it settled over her soul like the moonlight on her coat, turning dull bay to shimmering copper beneath the silver rays. She is content to linger there in blissful disregard of the rest of the world, for a while, but something distracts the nymph from her idle entertainment. Her green eyes turn away from the waves, slender ears perked forward as she turns to look back over her shoulder, further beyond the shore were sandy beach grass begins to grow. There is a gentle tug on her heart, an uncanny calling, and for a moment Ree imagines that she hears a voice trying to spirit her away.

“You… Young Maiden of the Earth. Come to my song; the song of the ocean…”

As if she no longer controlled her own motions, Ree pivots from the Oceanside, and begins to slowly and methodically follow the call of the melodic voice. She hums pleasantly as she goes, picking up a slight jog that sends sand flying past her hooves as they throw up the dust with each fluid stride. The crash of the ocean at her back is a gentle, soothing sound that reminds her of thunder storms in the spring, and Ree searches determinedly through the darkness for the one who has called her. Or perhaps she is losing her mind, imagining things for the sake of giving her scattered, racing thoughts something to hold onto. It wouldn’t have been the first time…

But that is when she sees the turtle, a creature of ancient beauty and archaic elegance, settled in the sand before her. Nearly stepping on the creature, Ree halts and pedals backward, head bowed sheepishly in surprise. Wide eyed and uncertain she lowers her petite head so that she is nearly eye to eye with the she turtle, and she notes the nest that is half buried behind her. Nostrils flared, she smiles, an impish, innocent sort of grin that lights up her eyes and warms her against the coolness of the night. Above them the stars glimmer and glitter, and the moon rests steadily in the sky, casting both mare and turtle in gentle, silver light that illuminates the world around them in an eerie glow of monochromatic grey.

“Are you the one that calls me?” Ree asks quizzically, observing the turtle with doe like eyes, nothing but kindness and sincerity displayed upon her face.