Eventide is softly casting o'er the earth a magic spell,

And a love-song, everlasting, on the night wind seems to swell.

The star did not shine for her. Though she saw it, though she noticed its shimmering allure and understood its effect through the actions of the philosopher, it's call could not reach through her heart and tug on her soul's essence. It saddened her, but only a little. For now it was enough that she was able to see. The day when she would be permitted to hear the song of the stars would come, of that she had no doubt.

Why? Because she wanted to hear it.

Once, a wise mare had told her that the world worked according to its own laws, and that the thoughts and actions of people was a mere byproduct of that law. This all encompassing rule guided and shaped the souls of mortals and gods alike, and yet it was a mere concept - open for interpretation, perhaps even dependent upon it. If this was indeed true then Erthë chose to believe that the concept, of that law the universe had sprung from, was free will.

By free will had she set out to explore a frost-clad expanse and found a red forest and warring gods. By free will had she taken sides and heeded the call of one god, and by that same free will had she stood by every god since that would accept her. From those actions of unrestrained freedom, of will and choice, consequences had arisen. Some good, some bad, yet ultimately they were only consequences of her choices and actions and the good or bad in any situation had been due to her interpretation of it as it affected her body and soul. Good was in the smile of a lavender goddess and the cool bite of glowing darkness that surrounded a fang, now worn around the neck. Good was in the discovery of strength, bravery and friendship, and bad was only that which caused her smile to slip and fade. Pain, loneliness, sadness, a black mare bleeding out on the sand and a father's tears as a daughter came home alone.

Good and bad were illusions, tricks of the mind to explain emotions that had no words. What really mattered was will, and by will the child was sure she could accomplish anything.

What she really wanted this night, was to know where Alune was going. As he left to follow the guiding star she slipped quietly into his shadow and followed, led by him in turn without question or concern. She was his apprentice, if the opalescent girl was not welcome to follow where he went then he would have to dismiss her, send her home and suffer the consequences of denying her a cure for the curiosity.

South they went, and east, until the forests and meadows crumbled and faded, turned to sand and rock and liquid, where the scent of wind and sea and faded sunlight wafted over her with every breath. Erthë knew the vast expanse of earth and water all too well. The place held no good memories for her, no blinding beacon of joy to override the atrocities that had taken place here. As she stepped out onto the pane and night enveloped her, she wondered whether the earth still remembered the taste of her mother's blood. Did it recall the face of the woman it had belonged to, or the god that brought about her demise? Would it recognize her as she once more relinquished herself to the illusory worlds it harbored, and allow her to leave again once their business here was over and done?

Will might not be able to conquer everything, so she kept close to Alune as he brought them out onto the plain, waded through the universe and felt its cool touch lap against her legs. Mist followed in her wake like hazy critters, ghostly butterflies flitting over the dark surface and her pale bodice until the flick of a tail or shifting wings caused them to dissolve and fade... only to reappear, silent and intangible as smoke.

She enjoyed their company, but tonight her focus was on the star-coated stallion and the tigress that awaited them at journey's end, her bright colors faded under the soft celestial light. Erthë gave Maren a smile in greeting and recognition but otherwise remained silent, determined to listen and learn without interrupting with questions and unrelated talk.

Adjusting her stance the child made herself comfortable and settled in to listen, keen to discover what this all was about.