The journey north was exhausting. Not only because many miles lay between the Secret Grove and the Aurora Basin, but also because little legs moved with short steps, and every curious thing needed to be investigated. Patience had never been a strong point of the Aurora Basin's General, but something about motherhood increased her tolerance for frivolous behavior. Even more so, she had fallen in love with the behavior, and found herself frolicking in the deepening snow the further north they travelled. Something had awakened within her as she participated in the pilgrimage to the mountainous valley the twins would call home, and whatever it was chased from her any lingering sadness or loneliness.

They still had a short way to go, and as the mountains grew before them, excitement blossomed in her heart. They would be loved by her herd mates, and anyone with any aversion to them or their wings would not escape her punishment. She knew of several among her herd who held both horn and wings, so certainly the children were not going to be an unusual sight. "Well, darlings, we're almost there," she crooned, proud of the tiny beings and their strength and perseverance. "You've both done wonderfully. It was a long trip, but we've finally made it."

Despite the unusually long Frostfall that had settled upon Helovia, this day was relatively mild. Snow had still accumulated, soft and downy atop the permafrost, and through the deepest drifts she had attempted to dredge paths for the colt and filly to follow her through. It was a dangerous season to birth foals, but luckily, so far they seemed to be doing well.  

She spoke to them, though most of the time she didn't expect an answer. Virga had yet to say anything, and Vesper's broken babbling, though adorable, wasn't quite developed enough to converse with yet. Still, Ki'irha found herself talking to the children as if they were going to respond. "Your little legs are sure to feel like they're made of jellyfish by the time we get home."

Her eyes sparkled and a smile brightened her expression as she looked upon them. Since their birth, they had become no less perfect than when they had entered the world. She had taken care to preen ice from their down and keep them from becoming too cold, and her constant fussing made protected them for the most part from the terrible bite of the frozen north. As the looming mountain pass grew closer with every step, she would be happy to usher them to her cave to shelter them further. She considered seeking out Johnny to fashion them blankets to keep them warm for the times she couldn't hover. It could have been the nerves of new motherly worries that caused her to attempt to shield them, or it could have been the way she remembered shivering beside her mother when her father encouraged her to plough through snow and ice to spar. She never wanted her children to know pain or suffering, and if she could kiss away the bite of winter she would. But her current obsession over them would have to suffice.

As they finally entered the Basin's sanctuary, the smile on her blue lips widened. There was so many people she wanted to present her glorious children to. She was certainly bringing them into a family that would protect and nurture them as they grew. Despite the bitterness the valley held, in it's heart it held warmth and love, and she would be sure her children knew how much they belonged to their new family.  

"We've finally made it," she whispered to them, before allowing her sterling gaze to sweep across the horizon in search for the welcoming party that was sure to arrive.

"Welcome home."

I’ll taste the night sky —
     AND FEEL ALIVE AGAIN