There was something terribly wrong. Mikey was right and she knew it – and then they hear the calls. Warning cries and shouts in the forest – names being called as searches were made. Her stomach felt as though it had turned to lead and she made to move forward, unable to stand still to wait and see what had befallen her friends. She needed to find them, needed to make sure that they were safe. But that was when the unicorn came and she felt hope. Another joined him, his daughter from the sounds of their interaction, and then they were all discovered by Resplendence.

Her hope, however, was short lived. Something terrible was happening. “What is happening?” She knew it would be better to wait to ask questions but she could not help it – the fear rising as she felt the panic of those that seemed to know more than they.

But though she was giving in to the nudges and moving off, they were interrupted. Her name was being spoken in a snarl – her heart hammering in her chest as she turned to find the source – though it took a moment to figure out what she was seeing. A young mare, certainly, but though she was familiar she seemed… wrong. It was that fog, that swirling threatening darkness around her, and it only made the epiphany all that worse when she realized who she was looking at. “Aurelia.” The name slipped from her mouth and she trembled where she stood, between Mikey and Resplendence. The beautiful little girl with golden dapples had become… well, there was no word for what she had become. Her mind whirled with the thought of demons, of some sick monster possessing someone she considered her friend. Any further words seemed unable to rise as the tears started to cloud those emerald eyes. She would give anything for the sweet girl she knew to be back.

But what could she do? Against whatever this was she had nothing and it tore at her heart, helplessness drowning her. Everything seemed to be happening in fast-motion around her. The demon-Aurelia was sneezing at them, a seemingly harmless action but this felt different. And then Resplendence was there between them, telling them to run.

Her mind screamed at her to do what she was being told to do, to run and find her way to the caves. But to be quite honest that screaming never really had a chance. She would have never left the healer or anyone else behind. She glanced towards Mikey but knew that he would not leave her behind any more than she could leave Resplendence. “No.” The word is forceful but kind, possibly the closest she has ever come to having an edge to her voice. They knew each other so little, but Resplendence was not the only selfless one here. She was not going to be allowed to sacrifice herself – not while Alysanne could be here. “I’m not leaving you here, Resplendence.” Her own voice is calm, steady. It’s so easy for her to do this, the easiest thing in the world. She stepped so that she was beside the beautiful mare, touching her shoulder gently with her muzzle. She could support her, be here, whatever was needed. But she could not possibly just leave. Her own fear felt muted and distant and she even managed a ghost of a smile.

“You can tell them that you love them yourself - don't deny them the chance to say it back to you.” And oh how she loved Resplendence in that moment, too. “We leave here together.” Or not at all being the unspoken addition to that sentence as her gaze drifted to Aurelia.

How quickly she cared for this herd. Perhaps it would be her downfall on this very day - but no other option would do for the white and black mare.