Najya

Oh, the desert dreams of a river that will run down to the sea, like my heart longs for an ocean to wash down over me.

Najya walked quietly next to Mesec, listening as he regaled her with stories about Helovia for a change.  She was excited to start this new chapter in her life and the more he spoke, the more her excitement grew.  How lucky she had been to have run into Mesec (quite literally) in a strange twist of fate.  Perhaps now her history here in Helovia would begin to unfold under her own terms and under her own control.   If only she knew.

Mesec's words cut off abruptly and Najya looked over in concern.  She followed his gaze to see a strange distortion on the horizon.  It was almost the type of illusion she used to see in the desert on particularly hot days, but the day was not particularly warm.  "What…" she began, trying to make sense of what her eyes were showing her, "What do you think that is?" she asked, but didn't expect him to have an answer.  The swirling smoke and haze seemed to expand before slowly retreating towards a center point.  It was something completely unnatural, but Mesec seemed to recognize something about what was happening by the way he reacted.  It was subtle, but recognition was there. 

She looked over to the silver and black stallion with concern evident in her hazel eyes.  Her gaze flicked to his wings before returning to his silver eyes. 

"Go on.  I'm quick on my feet, remember?" she said, both attempting to lighten the mood and giving him permission all in one go, but she knew there was nothing she could say to chase away the shadows that swirled in his silver gaze.  Something was happening.  Something that Mesec, for one, had no explanation for.   This made her weary, but she chose to follow anyway.  What kind of friend would she be to let him take on the unknown alone? 

And with that she took off after Mesec's shadow - again running headlong into the unknown. 

--- 

She was not sure what she expected to find when she finally caught up to Mesec, but it certainly wasn't this.  "Mesec," she offered, quietly, as she drew to a halt off his flank and just behind where he stood.  She didn't want to intrude, but wanted him to know that she was here, nonetheless.  Was she reckless for following, maybe.  But for Najya there had really only been one option.   

Najya allowed her gaze to wander across this unfamiliar place - beyond Mesec and the Goddess who stood amongst them.  A strange collection of equines was littered around the landscape looking out of place, for lack of a better word.  What had happened here?  What was she now witness to?

"Who are they?" she asked, quietly, to her friend.  But, again, she was not so foolish as to expect an answer.