He and his mount collapsed wearily at the castle gates. He had made it.
But just as he was settling down for a long-awaited nap, a thought wedged itself in his mind. A thought that slowly became an idea, and an idea, a memory.
She was laughing as she plucked at flowers, a handful of red spiderlilies already forming a crown across her brow. "I thought you wanted to show them what a strong clansmen you are."
"I-I did ..." he answered, running the cloth along his damp hair, still wet from his accidental plunge into the oasis's waters. She paused and turned to him, that mischievous and knowing smirk on her lips as her ruby eyes met his.
"You're never going to prove it to them head on. You have to train. Mother always says, if you study hard enough, you can accomplish anything."
But he wasn't the type to study, or spend all day with his nose in a scroll. He worked best through action, brute force. How ...
Then it clicked. Fight harder, aim more accurately, move faster. ... If he wasn't strong enough to overpower the other colts directly, he would have to find strength in other ways ...
He turned a warm smile on her. " ... I think I get it."
The smile that lit her face in answer, was all the motive he needed.
Kiwi gave a jolt upright. Mara ... Mara, why ... why did the sweet thought of her name send ripples of pain through his core ...??
