He had risen well before dawn for several days in a row now. It seemed to become a habit, or perhaps a sign of restlessness. Life under the trees of the Edge was much different from the uneasy existence led in the wildlands, and it took time to adjust to it. Lace wasn't actually sure that he wanted to get used to the peaceful lull of leaf and wave, of the gentle caress of mellow winds and water trickling sweet and cool between the roots of the trees. It felt dangerous, as though getting settled would bring trouble he wasn't prepared to deal with.

Rather, he wouldn't be ready to deal with any kind of trouble if he let the peace of the forest soften him, and so he welcomed the early rise and made the most of it.

Strictly speaking it wasn't necessary to patrol the borders anymore, but Lace didn't trust the illusion of safety the wall brought to the herd. It was an aid in the defense of their home, a way to focus any eventual attacks to certain points - but it wasn't, and couldn't be allowed to become, the only means of protection they had. He checked the stretches of towering glass religiously, starting each day by running along the border to check for cracks, imperfections, anything at all that could become a weakness. Kahlua had done her job well though, and as usual there was nothing to find.

This morning the gold-back had managed a quarter of the distance around the borders when a voice cut through the stillness, soft and so familiar that a smile automatically crept across his lips. Picking up the pace from the usual steady trot to a flowing canter the grullo hurried along, weaving through the trees until a small clearing showed him the owner of the lilting tune.

"Isra!" he called happily and broke off to a walk, approaching her from the side with prancing steps that set the mist swirling around the legs. A cob-webbed nose reached out as a welcoming hum vibrated through the chest, huffing warm air towards her in a greeting.

"It's been so long, I haven't seen you since the Evernight. How have you been, and where have you been? By the Moon it's good to see you again!" the stallion laughed and moved to tug playfully at a lock of the ivory mane, sidling in next to her with a smile warming the gaze of the golden eyes. They swept across her frame in silent admiration, appreciating the effect time had on her; not much was left of the lanky foal he had greeted to the world, he found himself standing next to a beautiful young mare now.

And yet, there was no doubt that it was Israfel. She was one of a kind, he knew no one else with such perfectly white coat or such shimmering golden lacing across the folded wings. Just standing next to her seemed to make the day grow brighter; very fitting for a daughter of the sun, indeed.

Dim vales- and shadowy floods-
And cloudy-looking woods,
Whose forms we can't discover
For the tears that drip all over!
Huge moons there wax and wane-
Again- again- again-