Mesec could not help but marvel at the devotion with which Maren spoke about the Sun God, his head tilting as he regarded her with calm concern twice during their conversation now. First, when she had stumbled over blaming someone else and her lack of devotion for the reason why the Sun God set fire to the herd that he was in charge of protecting. As though one single horse with a lack of faith could inspire such wrath as to set fire to an entire herd. And second, when she praised Gaucho for returning the faith to Helovia and thus returning them to the surface. Now, Mesec had not been present inside the caves when they had all returned to the surface so maybe it was the faith that Helovians had in the Gods that fought away the fear and darkness.

Mesec had his doubts, but when didn’t he? Things were so rarely that simple.

He moved with her closer to the pool that cast dancing light on the ceiling and the walls and Mesec, listening to her words, brushed the hairs on his muzzle against the surface of the pool and watched the ripples. He wondered if the water still had healing properties, or if it was just against the wraiths that this water was helpful at all.

But he did not have much time for idle thoughts, the silver and black stallion was too interested in the topic at hand and too curious about Maren and how confident she sounded in her beliefs. He was jealous of that confidence.

He responded to that playful smile with a small grin of his own, grateful that she added the footnote that he was not to be pigeon holed. Still, he felt unsettled by her talk and uncomfortable with how unsettled he felt. It was not up to him to determine who Maren placed her faith with or how completely she was willing to give herself over to the Gods. “Why do you find it so easy to believe that what they do is right? That faith in the Gods will solve our problems?” The question came out quietly and cautiously because Mesec wasn’t really sure he should be speaking it, it was pretty rude of him to question her beliefs after all. But Maren was new to Helovia and their gods and he was incredibly curious about how she had fallen into this world so completely and so quickly.

Or was that why it seemed to be so easy for her? Because she had not been here long enough to realize the faults of the Gods, how they came and went as they pleased and left havoc in their place as the mortals and their children scrambled for peace. There was allegiance, yes, but it had been a long time since he had met someone so openly pious and it came as a bit of a shock. It was harder for him to see the Gods as Gods, as infallible beings that did what they did to punish or reward the Helovians that served them. He did not need to believe in them because he knew that they existed, knew that they had faults just as much as the rest of them. Just a great deal more arrogance and power as well.

DON'T LOOK AT THE DATE OR ME -hides in shame-
@[Maren]


I’m trying to find my direction home, ______________
A question of space, a matter of time, _______
I follow the stars until the first light.