Steeling herself, Erthë had been waiting for an answer, a sign of acknowledgement that he heard his own name, that he accepted her presence - anything really, that could be taken as a cue to continue. As silent moments continued to pass she felt the tension mount, dread and fret and all manner of doubt and cowardly hesitance accumulating within, so that when Mauja finally did answer, she nearly jumped in place. Like the frazzled fumbling for a phone one knew would ring, the girl parted lips to push out at least one of the many tumbling questions that crowded on her tongue, drew breath to give voice to curiosity -

It was just that he got it out first. And it was such an unexpected, dark and horrible question that the girl could only stare at the stallion for long, speechless moments.

Then she threw her head back and laughed, withheld breath shattering the stillness in an expression of mirth. If he'd asked she couldn't have told him what it was that amused her so. Erthë didn't know herself. She just laughed, a sound completely lacking mockery that went on and on, until she was able to breathe again.

Smiling she shook her head; "No, I'm not! And I really hope you won't either, because catching you would be very difficult."  

Lights of amusement danced in her eyes as she measured his bulk, so much greater than her own. Still, there was little doubt in her mind that if the man attempted to do something so foolish she would still try. It might mean the end to her life, an erasure of her existence - but wasn't that something you did for family? Strangers they might be, but as long as Mauja resided within the Edge and called the misty forest home, Erthë would still give up anything to help him, whether he wanted to or not.

Still, she thought with an inward shudder. What a gloomy thought. Perfectly suited for the weather, but to think Mauja's mind wandered such dark and dangerous paths! She would never have believed it, not by simply looking at him. Perhaps it was something she should pursue, attempt to pry answers about his state of mind from those ashen lips to see if there was a wound somewhere she would be able to mend. Alas, it was not really in her nature to do so. Should he volunteer tidbits on his internal struggles she would listen, but to press someone for their trust and confidence... No.

"I, um... " She hesitated a bit, attempting to gather her thoughts and decide how bold she could get away with being. "You've been living here a long time, right? Do you think you could tell me about it? The Edge, I mean, and how things were before. Lady Arah told us about some things a while ago, but there was so much else she didn't say."

Mysteries yet to be solved, riddles and half told tales that tickled the mind, frustrating a child so greedy for knowledge. Ears pinned hopefully onto the snow-pale ghost, a quiet prayer ascending that he would be in a reminiscent mood and willing to share what he knew of times past.

He was old after all, a living legend if Helovia ever had one - surely there must be something he knew that no one else could tell her.

DANCING IN DARKNESS
to the sound of a drum