HAWEZI

You hadn't noticed Orithia.

It wasn't surprising. You were, in many ways, utterly oblivious. You had little experience with the world you were born into; to you, the entire world was the Edge. There were no deserts, no beaches, no jungles, no summer or spring; there was only the rain and the snow, the mist that rolled in around the trees in the evening, the dragons that slept in branches and the owls that soared in the night. Your life was overwhelmed by your mother, your father, your family, and the warm feeling of safety that came with never having experienced hardship. In other words, you didn't notice Orithia because you didn't need to.

Nobody, not even the horses following you, would cause you harm.

Your teeth click and slide over glass not out of hunger or unmet needs but out of simple (and well-nurtured) curiosity. You tug and pull at what cannot be moved out of boredom—you test and sample the limits of your sad strength. Sunlight glistened and gleamed on your haunches, soft and diffuse rays warmed you down to your bones; the futile tugging was a pleasant way to pass time, you decide, and you continue to work away at the statue.

It was only a few minutes before you were interrupted.
Careful, it might bite back!
You whirl, alarmed; when it is only the Philosopher (you don't know her name) you glance back over your shoulder to the statue, giving it a wary and nervous glance. Then, after another moment of thought, you sidle farther away from it. (Just in case, right? She was probably pulling your leg but... on the off-chance she wasn't...)

The blue-gray unicorn drifted closer. You didn't notice she was pretty (you were, after all, just a kid) but you did notice she had a nice sort of a smile, one that put you at ease right away. When she glances around (almost furtively) you lean forward eagerly—hoping for a story, or a secret. Instead she asks you who you are.

You're about to answer when your hero appears. Prompt forgetting Dacianna, you eagerly turn towards Tembovu, a huge grin lighting up your face. You prance towards him, butt wiggling like a dog wagging its tail, reaching out to brush your nose against his. "Dad," you proclaim eagerly; "I have new friend." You turn back towards Dacianna.

"'I 'wezi" you tell her politely. "Hawezi. And you are Daci?"  

Then lastly Orithia steps out, her soft white wings folded. You glance between the three of them, still situated by Tembovu's head; you want to touch them all, rub your head against theirs and press up against their bodies in warm hugs, but you don't really know who to go to first. So instead you linger by Tembovu, unwilling to move away just yet.

EDGE

fo Lyfe