The mare stood sentient upon the hills, her steely eyes tinted with the slightest of teals watched as the sun slowly rose once more over the horizon. Sighing with relief, she allowed herself a quiet moment to admire the view. Ever since the endless night had ended, the porcelain mare had watched every sunset with dread, spending the night hoping the sun would rise again in the morn. It had done each day like clockwork and, slowly, the mare was adjusting the the cycle and once again trusting the sun to rise upon the horizon. Pink and orange hues had tainted her body, painting with vivid watercolours over her blank canvas. Yet she would not idle herself. She had duties, and had to patrol the borders.

Ever since Ktulu left, Artemis had realized just how much the ivory maned creature had done. It was probably because of that reason that the war painted creature had never had a proper conversation, or even introduction, with her. She had taken on the duties herself, for it did in fact seem that very few were bothering and with e herd in its weakened state it was now paramount to their survival.

Artemis was annoyed that it fell upon her shoulders alone, yet she did not show it. Instead she walked in silence, alone, along the border each day, determined to make Apollo proud and to guard the invisible walls as if he life depended on it.

Because really, it was all she had.

As she walked and the day progressed, she found herself thinking of Tharos and those words that had escaped his lips. She tried to pretend she had misheard, or he had misspoke, yet she knew it was true. He loved her, and yet she had not said the same. She barely understood her feelings on anything, let alone love of all things. How could she honestly say she loved him, if her own heart was a mystery to her? Artemis was not one to sugar coat things, nor fake feelings that were not there, yet instead of telling him straight she had simply dismissed it, ignoring him completely.

Was that not worse?

Probably.

She hated herself for it, yet she couldn't take it back now. Instead she put her heart and soul into walking the endless circle around the Foothills, memorising every rock and crevice. She knew it so well that often times she would allow her mind to wander, yet today she was alert with ears pricked and eyes wide. She felt somehow as if she was not alone, as if mindless ambling would not cut it today. And as she walked, it soon became evident that she was correct in her prediction, yet it was not some warrior come to claim a bounty. No, it was much stranger and quite unexpected.

The day was sunny and dry, yet Artemis could have sworn she saw mist, yet it was no ordinary mist. It was shifting and moving, with steady beads of liquid trickling down its body - and it was a body, she decided, for it seemed denser than a simple cloud - and soaking the earth beneath. As she followed quietly, she heard it call out for a name she did not recognise and in that instant, she froze.

A ghost, perhaps?

She had only heard of such things from tales her mother had frightened her wi as a child, yet it seemed a logical solution for the spectral being. Though never had she been told stories of sodden ghosts. Images of her mothers drowning came to mind, sending a shudder down her spine as the idea emerged - the picture was painted into her skull quite vividly. It was a mare who drowned trying to find her lost lover, and s continued to stalk the forests surrounding the hills, desperate to be reunited at last.

She shuddered visibly, pinning her ears down. She could not run, she knew, though the sight of a watery being frightened her. Forcing herself to stay planted, she spoke out; "Lady, do you need assistance? Why are you here?" Her voice was quite meek which was a rarity for the warrior, and she spoke quietly as if hoping it might not hear her and simply leave without a trace.