((OOC: Backing up a little can become an issue with so many characters to address.))

Mermydon watched Dhuka and Amara head out to forage, he was very glad that they were working together on something because he expected they would be spending a lot of time together. But then Amethyst swam away from the group. Apparently her unpleasant past was something she desperately wants to hold onto? But he couldn't dwell upon that or give chase, it would likely hurt the group, but it gave him an idea. "Raka, now would be a very good time to go fetch Amethyst and talk to her. And if you don't take the scenic route back to the island in the middle of the lake, you won't be welcome. And don't worry about the prince and princess, they are my responsibility." He expected they would be back to them by sunset, now that Raka knew where the were to rendezvous. It was Meara's turn to retort to Mermydon's offer, it was good to see that she had some sort of pride in herself. He was beginning to think every living mare in the lake was a depressed, drama case! "Oh your not?" He asked with comical rhetoric. "Then what sort mare are you to decline my friendship and my seed after coming out to aid and heal us? I really want to know who Meara thinks she is. And if she doesn't know, then I will be happy to. Either by service or by granting you a future if you know not." He offered in the only ways he understood; the same way he did for Aleria Swifthorn. He hoped his magnetic field would help her understand that he didn't think that mares should be bareback and laying nests full of eggs. But if they had no desire for a future, then better to give one to their offspring and stop wasting the oxygen in the water. Truth be told he expected Meara to have to stop and think about that, and it was unfortunately timed when Metal appeared to tell him the news of Grim Rose; to which he acknowledged, then asked. "And what about you Metal?" He was listening for Raka, Meara, Kipper, Metal and Heroine, though he didn't give Heroine a lot of his attention because he didn't trust her; still he tried to be cordial. "Not sure what all of these Hallenjaxites doing here could mean, but I doubt you intend to defraud a dead kingdom and an exiled prince over such a story."

Metal nodded. "Grim Rose may join you when she finds it right." Metal said. "She is very torn with leaving behind these adventures." He hoped that Mermydon would understand and accept that she may return. He hoped and sweared on the dead grave of an elder that Mermydon would love to have her back. Metal smiled. And then turned to leave.

Amethyst went to the lake and got onto the small island. She cried her heart out. She couldn't help herself. She thought she saw something but she dismissed the thought of anything. Amethyst collapsed and she curled up alone. Was she alone? Was she questioning her sanity? Yes that what it felt like. She remembered Yal and Monra in such violent ways as such as Yal's death.

Raka had been hoping for a chance to get away from the others to think, this was perfect. Mermydon didn't need to try to convince him any more. Raka smiled thankfully at Mermydon and swam off to follow Amethyst.

Kipper had heard Mermydon mention that they were to meet on the island, good she was thinking of going there herself, the shore there was clay and mud not like the silt and sand that she currently stood on. It would be nice to take a nice refreshing dip in the mud and perhaps find a little something to eat. She could smell a kill in the woods, undoubtedly the morrko' doing but she much preferred sea food. Kipper slipped into the water and began making her way to the island glad to no longer have the rough sand between her toes.

Amethyst lay weakly and she stopped crying. She then looked around once more. She stood up shakily. She shook with sobs.

"Okay well it's just the rivers......... they don't bring back nice memories." Amethyst said and laid back down. She then looked at Raka. Could she trust him? She smiled weakly. "Can I trust you?" Amethyst asked. She nodded slowly.

"I lost my younger brother Yal to a rushing river." Amethyst said. "I want him back but now he is most likely washed out to see and dead. If only I could have dived into the river fast enough! If only I could have saved him. Now Monra blames me for Yal's death and doesn't want anything to do with me. I don't know how I can live with myself after all of this!" Amethyst shook once more.

"Okay." Amethyst stood up. "What is your name?" She smiled weakly and she was no longer shaking. She didn't feel like crying and she didn't feel like she had done something horrible. What was wrong with me? She thought.