Eva's silence offered an unjudging audience, the darkness aiding in the illusion of solitude.
"Fucking bugs," Fiona gritted out, her voice cracking.
Fiona stopped tending to the mare, her head dropping back as she stared up at the sky.
Eva waited, knowing that wasn't the extent of Fiona's pain.
"I'm so mad at her for dying on me," Fiona whispered.
The ache of loss made Eva's eyes smart. Fiona was one of the women Eva admired most. Strong and fierce with an unexpected kindness Eva knew she didn't show often.
Watching her suffer made Eva feel small and useless. Worse was the helpless feeling of knowing nothing you said could offer comfort.
Maybe if Eva had been better with people that wouldn't be the case. Then again, how could any words be good enough to address such a loss?
It would be like Eva losing Caia or Ollie. Nothing would lighten that devastation.
A touch brushed against Eva's consciousness, bringing with it the sense of a cool, refreshing breeze.
"Come with me. There's someone you should really meet."
Fiona's face showed startlement as Eva turned and walked away. She tossed her brush toward the side and hurried after Eva.
"You know you really should stick close to camp. There's no telling when the forward scouts of that army will find us and you're a tempting target," Fiona said.
"Don't worry. We're not going far." Eva stopped and looked up.
The wings of a Kyren blotted out the stars as a small shape struggled beside her. Belle set down seconds later, her foal's landing a little shakier than hers.
Eva nodded at the two Kyren. "Fiona, meet Belle and her foal."
Fiona seemed confused as she studied the two Kyren. "I thought the Kyren abandoned us."
Jane moved closer to Fiona and Eva, a look of fascination on the normally quiet Anateri woman’s face.
They have, but Orion only speaks for the herd as a whole. Those who choose can still maintain a relationship with humans as long as it doesn't imperil the herd. My foal and I owe you a debt; we will not forget it.
Eva translated Belle's words.
Fiona's head snapped toward Eva. "You mean—"
Eva nodded. "Yes. This is the Kyren and foal Laurell's sacrifice enabled me to save."
Fiona's eyes glistened as her gaze moved back to the foal. Her breath was shaky as she inhaled then slowly exhaled.
Translate for me.
"I will."
Belle paced toward Fiona as Eva started to speak.
"Your friend was there on my darkest day when I had given up all hope that my unborn child would ever taste the sky. Because of her, my child will grow up in freedom, not bound to the yoke of another's will. It is a gift more precious than any other he will ever receive."
Silent tears streamed down Fiona's cheeks.
"For Kyren, names are special. They're carefully chosen to reflect the fate they wish for their children. Belle can think of no better namesake than her child's savior. She's asking to name the foal Lore after Laurell. She hopes Lore will grow to have the kind of honor and courage that Laurell did."
Eva's eyes were watery and her voice thick by the time she finished relaying Belle's request.
