Essetia & Romul

But we threw it in the flames and now we're never gonna trace it

It certainly came as no surprise that outsiders, or rather those still unaware of the old power that resided within the very bones of Helovia, found creatures like Romul to be alarming. The cowardly King’s daughter had learned from a young age that not everyone would welcome her wolf to heart as easily as she had done when she was just a filly. However, their relationship was quite different than most would think; Essetia had grown up with Romul. He was her brother, protector, and confidant among other things. He had played the role of father, mother, and friend… He had risen from the chains of servitude and come to sit equal his Queen. They were very much united and very much a single mind forged of two. Together they had shed their flesh and bones; they had merged their very souls and escaped the ashes of a long and volatile past. In truth, they were better rogues than entitled royalty… perhaps it was best that the Gentle Heart had abandoned his throne and weanling daughter. She had grown from the strength of solitude and created a fortress made from wolf song.

“I suppose you’ve picked the right companion for your endeavors then,” the mare jested lightly.

However, the Sleuth did little to soothe her new friend and his wariness of her predator bond, but instead nodded solemnly at his curiosity. It took a bit of time for her answer though and somehow it seemed just that she would hesitate to satisfy the stallion’s inquisitiveness. What she and Romul shared was a sacred thing and oftentimes she regarded it as mere common knowledge. When had she become so selfish?

When at last the garron fell into stride beside her, Essetia listened carefully to the heartbeat of the wood just in case it yearned to warn of her of any ill fates. She still had yet to provide an explanation for Romul and their queer connection, but was content to let the quiet of the Threshold act as a balm for the secrets she was about to reveal. When she had turned, her lips parted slightly and the words hanging just at the tip of her tongue, she was startled to find herself face to face with the stallion’s dual colored eyes. Whether or not she had simply overlooked them before was debatable, but her shock stemmed only from the fact that he had finally found the nerve enough to face her head-on –if only for a brief moment. Silently, she applauded him his efforts. “I think ‘friend’ would be a fairly loose term for Romul,” she began distractedly. “Helovia’s community would call him a companion, but what ties us together is much more than companionship if you ask me. There’s no good way of describing it really… but in a sense we are bound for life and no one will ever be able to take the other’s place,” Essetia finished on a sigh.

As they continued down the path, the Sleuth strayed slightly toward the right and consequently into a thick of trees so tall that one had trouble seeing their crowns. It was a calculated plan in truth and one that might alarm her guest, but Essetia was not a malignant creature… In fact, she was anything but. While she was busy scouting the quickest path out of the Threshold, the wanderer filled the silence with thought. Everything he said appeared more of an idea to Essetia than a decision. He reminded her of a stalk of grass that bent wherever the breeze blew… he followed life just as much as it led him. “I’ve never believed that we are meant to find everything we seek,” the Sleuth mused as they worked their way through the thicket. From time to time snags of dried bramble caught around her legs and though she was unfazed by their tireless assault, she feared that the garron might find them bothersome. “It won’t be much longer,” she informed vaguely.

When at last the trees seemed to thin and the wide expanse of the Thistle Meadow stretched out before them, Essetia paused to glace back at Masanori. The name seemed to suit the dream-like fellow well enough and she smiled slightly at the sound of it. Just beyond, the meadow lay exposed beneath a fine layer of immaculate white and the frozen stream that weaved through the plane seemed to draw her eyes out across an eternity of cold that had no end. Soft winter rays danced lazily across her back and made her skin prickle from its warmth… It contented her to know that everything they needed to see was right there before them. Helovia was much larger than met the eye and so full of life and mystery that it would be a wonder to leave. “Of course, sometimes its better we don’t know what we’re seeking. At least then, we don’t have to be sure we’ve found much of anything,” Essetia commented absently.

“I’d like to invite you to the Dragon’s Throat; it’s a herd land just south of here. You don’t have to know what you’re seeking just yet… but I’d like to think I could help you find out.”