The journey stood out in her mind as a very long nightmare, a hazy memory of pain, weakness and penetrating cold, of endless fields of white that gradually lost their beauty as her strength faded. It seemed to the mare that the scent of blood clung to her entirety, to every down and feather, every strand of hair, every nook and cranny of her body. She felt tainted, unclean, as if it was an illness that had grabbed hold of her and not the aftermath of a difficult birth. Fever clouded her mind in a haze of sensitivity, time played tricks on her and laughed her in the face; her only comforts were the small filly that bounded by her side, Vadim, the strong, safe, comforting soul who seemed to always be just where she needed him to be, and their odd-man-out shadow, the badger who followed in their tracks as faithfully as if he were a companion soul like Vlasi. Shadow wanted to thank him for coming with them. Surely his herbs had saved her many times by now, the foul dry leaves that she hated with a fervor but who stilled the flow of blood into a drip, a trickle, no more than red stains upon the snow. That she continued to bleed despite his best efforts was not his fault. She didn't, couldn't blame him for that, nor for hanging back and speaking so very little along the way. How must it not feel to be a stranger amidst a family on a mission?

"The girl needs a name" she remembered saying weakly to both stallions at some point, as they huddled together at dawn, sparing precious minutes in order for said girl to eat and rest. "Would you give her one?" She had smiled at Badger then, willing to accept his suggestions too - she didn't have energy to spare for whatever hurt feelings Vadim might have about that.

She couldn't remember who the suggestion had come from now. Either way it was a good one. Erthë... a strong name, yet just as pretty as her.

Erthë seemed to take well to the gelding healer. Called him 'uncle' and went as often to him as to Vadim or herself for company and comfort, and the mare made no attempts to keep her from it. If only she hadn't been so weak...

Alas. If she had been strong, they wouldn't have been out here in the cold and ice in the first place.

She was but a shadow of her normal self by the time they reached the main passage into the Aurora Basin. What little strength she had left was nearly spent comforting her child as the sentries came into view; she pitied the quivering girl that clung to her side, and quite agreed with her even though the blackbird didn't let it show. The last time she had been in there... but she couldn't doubt now.

"Hello?" she called, raising her exhausted voice as much as she could in the direction of the sentries. She didn't know what function they filled, whether decorative (hardly, they were only big and clumsy and imposing) or informative - or perhaps safeguarding? Either way they or some mortal beyond them would hopefully hear, and listen to her plea.

"I am Shadow, I come seeking aid. A healer, shelter, food... please?"

She wouldn't survive a journey back across the ice. If they turned her away here... everything would be over.


@Vadim @Thranduil