Nothing would ever quite compare to the innocence of a child. Essetia knew and often acknowledged this in the wake of her own fleeting youth... However, pain and abandonment had robbed her of that innocence and she sought, now more than ever, to ensure that Kipling’s wild imagination was nurtured and fulfilled unlike her own fettered dreams. His excitement was intoxicating and his words made her heart beat fast as if she too believed that whatever lay beyond the forest was actually a land of wonder and illusion. Even if the truth disappointed her, Essetia knew that the Hidden Falls would not thwart Kipling’s idea of the existence of magic and fairytales in Helovia. This was all new to him after all… he would learn with age.

With a primitive smile turning her lips forever upward, Essetia looked around to each of the other mares in turn. Ophelia was a kind soul and wise beyond her assumptive years. Amani was an eager, bright disciple of the Throat with the ability to weave words into an endless melody… but Essetia, she was once a filly just like Kipling. She had dreamt of a world so wonderful and vivid that she often lived in the vastness of her imagination for hours on end. There was something pure about the two of them that convinced her of their eminent relationship. That’s not to say she sought love or the like, but his happiness was something she’d once possessed… it was something she wanted to regain.

The colt, though distracted by fantastical ideas of Helovia, had begun to wander closer to Essetia and her curious wolf. Romul, though contained forcibly at her hooves, noticed the colt’s approach and whined preemptively at the child before rising to stand. Before his companion had a chance to notice or retain him, the canine ambled forth from beneath her to halt the small stud on his path towards Essetia.

The wolf gazed up at the Unicorn with wide, golden eyes that suggested whimsical fascination. Never before had he taken so quickly to another that chills of awe-inspired anxiety clawed their way up his companion’s spine. “Romul,” she hissed through their bond. However, the canine provided no answer and instead moved to accompany the colt at his shoulder. In an attempt to calm both Kipling and herself, Essetia directed her attention to the colt before nearly whispering, “You shall see everything,”

However, before the mare could unleash the wrath of hell down upon her wolf, the colt startled her with his own decision to follow her home to the Falls. A blazing smile curved her worried expression upwards once more and she nodded slowly before adding, “The Falls won’t disappoint you,” With a little more patience for their fellow inhabitants, Essetia allowed Kipling to wish them farewell before welcoming him to her side as Romul had already sought to encourage. “If you follow me, we should arrive in the Falls in no time. It’s not far from here actually and I know you’re going to fit right in,” she assured with soft, friendly tones.

With that, Essetia nodded to Ophelia and Amani in parting and then turned away to lead Kipling to his new life.


The journey would be brief if anything but Essetia wanted nothing more than for the colt to feel welcome in her company. So when they emerged from the wood that revealed a worn, narrow path that eventually led to the borders of their home, she allowed Romul to resume his position at the colt’s shoulder. She was hesitant to question why he had taken such a liking to the youth, but as all things often were, it would be answered in time, “So tell me more about your parents,”


Essetia