d’Arcy had decided once and for all that Frostfall was the worst. It was too cold, and food was to hard to find, not to mention that her blood had seemingly abandoned her! Yes, mother had told her she was going but did that make it okay? Was chasing after whispers of a long gone father more important to Nyx than the safety of her daughter? And now Libertad was gone too, and each day he did not appear added to the sick weight in her gut; her brother, her precious twin had left her (for she could not let herself believe that he had come to harm). Even at this tender age she knew she would have died for him, and he had left her—a red rose in the snow, his blood—like she meant nothing. No child is born with a calloused heart, but the little red shadow was well on her way.

She heard the King’s call and for several long minutes stayed where she was in her thorny thicket. She’d taken to sulking under cover in the thick copse of bushes since she’d discovered it several days prior. Snow had fallen thick enough to cover the top to create roof and walls supported by the thick brush and form a little makeshift burrow, it was a tight fit and thorny but at least she could sleep out of the wind and well-hidden. Even in her disconsolate mood, the urge to gather knowledge would not allow her to stay away and so she squeezed herself through the bush and moved out of the woods to the cliffs.

She approached the gathering quietly, and remained on the outskirts, as hidden as she could manage for several moments. Sharp cobalt eyes watched each new arrival lingering over movements and body language as each took their place. The social dynamic had always been fascinating, even if she had little interest in joining it right away. Her brother would always shove himself into the action but d’Arcy had always found it more advantageous to wait and to listen.

Her mother should have been here, the General of the World’s Edge, and as her daughter the filly should have stood beside her. Nyx was gone though, and so too, was d’Arcy’s place in the pecking order of the herd. It was a frightening thing, to realize that without her mother she had no place, no measure of importance and that fact burned through the filly. She couldn’t rely on other’s to make a place for her, not when they could leave or take it away; if d’Arcy wanted a place she had to carve it out for herself. She glanced around again, not knowing what she was looking for. Why did this choice feel so important? Some how she knew that it was, but as innocent as she still was—despite all her pretending—d’Arcy couldn't know how important recent events would be in the path they were sending her down…Those she’d loved had left her hanging, and if she picked herself up now there’ed be no more blind trust ever again. d’Arcy could rely on d’Arcy, and maybe that was all she’d ever trust in again.

Silent and grim-faced the skinny girl picked her way through the crowd and over to a familiar face: the pale sleuth, Raeden. d’Arcy stopped at her side but did not stand to close or make any overly familiar sign of greeting. Eyes flicked up to see if they could catch the mares gaze briefly before sliding back to focus on the leaders. She wasn’t looking for comfort, for another mother figure, this little sneak-in-training was here to learn.

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Mentions: @Raeden

You'll see her in your nightmares, you'll see her in your dreams

She'll appear out of nowhere but she ain't what she seems