How many more days would the girl have to live underground? It was odd- she loved how many horses there were. And during the day, when a little bit of light streamed in from the winter sky, the cave was good enough. There were friends, food, water, safety. She danced like a brilliant light, spreading cheer through the masses when she could. She met, she befriended, she danced, she laughed. And when she saw Kaj, when she saw Resplendence, Brisa, Alysanne, Aaron, Mauja, her heart soared and she was in heaven. When she saw them she wasn't trapped beneath the earth any longer.

But, days didn't last forever. And when the nights came, when the sun disappeared and the only light left was the gentle glow of the mushrooms, the happiness disappeared. And when she closed her eyes, when she tried to take a moment to sleep, everything changed. The nightmares came, unspeakable terrors that haunted the poor girl. Every horror that had ever haunted her came back to life in the darkness of the night and every night the girl woke screaming. It showed. Even though she danced between friends, even though she laughed and played, whenever she had a spare moment she devolved into an exhausted shade of a woman.

But just when she needed it most, just when she was leaning against a wall, her body threatening collapse and give up, she heard something that gave her body and soul the lift they needed. The voice of her Goddess, her queen whose voice she had heard once before, and she opened her eyes and lifted her body from the wall. And for once, the idea of leaving the cavern did not frighten her, the thought of stepping from the safety of the stony walls did not make her cringe and shiver. For once, she felt brave.

Quickly, with purpose, she made her way to the cavern's opening, climbing up the stony slope that she had slid down so long ago, and exited into the cool winter air, the lavender Queen standing before her, the snows parting around her as if they dare not touch her godly frame. As for herself, Kahlua extended her forelimb and curled her nose around, dipping down into a bow, as if the action could honor the goddess with the respect she deserved. “My queen,” she murmured, the reverence and awe in her voice as clear as it could ever be. To simply have been summoned was a honor. What could the Lady Moon want of her, a simple Glazier?