July 2nd, 1894 — The Reach
"Calm your mind, Blair, my darling. If I can feel your tension, your horse certainly can." Titania rubbed an affectionate hand along the mare's neck, her attention still on Bonnie. The redheaded child at her side had grown so much in her absence. Titania's heart ached for the time she had lost with the girls, with Murdock. Whoever had worn her skin during the horrible tea incident had cost her dearly. If she ever learned the identity of her pretender, there was no telling what would come next. Not naturally vengeful, Titania still had a list of particularly nasty potions she wouldn't mind inflicting on the imposter.
Titania was determined to move forward, choosing to trust that, in time, she and Murdock would find themselves joined as they were meant to be. The girls would truly be her daughters, as they had been in her heart for nearly four years. All would be righted, even if it was the last thing she accomplished on this earth.
They were still near the Reach, just on the edge of the estate near the stables. She knew that Bonnie could ride, but if the girl wished to prepare for her animagus transformation, something required of all the Greyback women in the pack, Bonnie had to learn to master her emotions. Titania knew the struggles of her transformation, and she refused to let their baby girl Bonnie walk the same path without guidance. That, and she refused to take the child she adored into the dangers of the forest on horseback without assurance that Bonnie could hold her own.
"Your physical balance is exemplary, but it is your heart that needs to calm." She smiled, knowing already how patience was much to ask of a thirteen-year-old eager to learn. "Here, feel her heartbeat." Titania moved her hand to the draft mare's mane, giving the giant a gentle scratch while waiting for Bonnie to step forward. "Do you feel how steady her heart is, how calm she is with us near?"
Titania was determined to move forward, choosing to trust that, in time, she and Murdock would find themselves joined as they were meant to be. The girls would truly be her daughters, as they had been in her heart for nearly four years. All would be righted, even if it was the last thing she accomplished on this earth.
They were still near the Reach, just on the edge of the estate near the stables. She knew that Bonnie could ride, but if the girl wished to prepare for her animagus transformation, something required of all the Greyback women in the pack, Bonnie had to learn to master her emotions. Titania knew the struggles of her transformation, and she refused to let their baby girl Bonnie walk the same path without guidance. That, and she refused to take the child she adored into the dangers of the forest on horseback without assurance that Bonnie could hold her own.
"Your physical balance is exemplary, but it is your heart that needs to calm." She smiled, knowing already how patience was much to ask of a thirteen-year-old eager to learn. "Here, feel her heartbeat." Titania moved her hand to the draft mare's mane, giving the giant a gentle scratch while waiting for Bonnie to step forward. "Do you feel how steady her heart is, how calm she is with us near?"
![[Image: 6FdDBqK.png]](https://i.imgur.com/6FdDBqK.png)