Sometimes, it was nice to just be home. Loiter about, drift between favorite haunts and make sure that everything was well with the world. But lately those refuges brought her little relaxation. Something had broken after the mess with the bramble, a trust gone to seed, perhaps... No, it was more that a faith had fractured, in her own understanding of the place that she had called utopia for so long. Had she been wrong to place such firm trust in the inherent goodness of those that dwell here?

Perhaps. If she looked rationally upon her experiences up until now Erthë had to admit that there was very little in life that was purely black or white. Just like her own pale coat shifted in hues of pink and blue, so did the morals of every soul she crossed paths with. To try and push a label of 'right' and 'good' upon people just because they had always been kind to her was as short-sighted as it was foolish, a destination bound for grief and shattered illusions. That was probably what afflicted her these days, beyond the whole bad business of life versus death and the cost of progress. She had pressed her eye against a rose-colored lens and gotten used to the view on the other side, and when it broke she complained at how faded the colors appeared.

Erthë snorted at her own naivete, head shaking slowly as she meandered along the border, her feet automatically following the usual paths on her usual night-time wanderings. Life in the Edge was making her complacent, her mind was dulling. It was embarrassing to think that she'd needed the Goddess to point this out before seeing it for herself, more awkward still that she was opening her eyes and still had yet to move forward from this place.

Not that she had to leave, not physically - that wasn't what the Lady had said - but whenever the young mare stopped double-checking herself she fell back into the same old habits, the same restricted patterns of thought. It was a bad sign, one that planted a seed of urgency to get on with the Lady's instructions...

The question was where she should start. Visit a herdland, get lost with a friend or help someone find a friend... or love. How did you even do that? The first task was obviously easier, and it was tempting to get that underway and have done with it. Impatient by nature Erthë wanted to do this thing quickly, even though she had been told specifically that it wasn't a race...

A voice cut through the stillness of the night, and with a jerk the crowned dove looked up. Without realizing it she had wandered all the way to the gate, not noticing the looming metal structure or the building ache within her broken leg. Now they both hit her at once, the latter bringing on a grimace as the ever present pounding intensified while the first drew her attention. Not so much by its stately appearance or novelty, no, but because there was someone standing on the other side.

"Hello? Did you call just now?"

The limp in her gait was heavier than usual as she approached the metal structure, somewhat wary despite herself. Newcomers at the Edge was common enough, they had experienced a steady stream of petitioners for as long as she could recall; she had been one herself once, as she migrated south along with her father. But usually they didn't come in the dead of night... nor did they often cause her to startle.

This was probably more her fault than his however, she reminded herself. Better not blame others for her own lack of attention.

Stopping by the wrought iron fencing the snow-cold girl peered curiously at the stranger, the light from the moon enabling her to notice details that would have eluded her otherwise. He was tall enough, towering even compared to her own humble measurements and good looking in a quiet sort of way. Lacking the striking colors and odd markings of most Helovians, he stood out all the more for the simple elegance of his dark coat, while the gleam of a white horn and a pair of pale socks lent him character.

Noticing a bird perched upon high withers Erthë smiled; the usual pang of jealousy when seeing someone with a soul-bond was barely noticeable as she nodded to the stallion in greeting.

"Welcome to the Edge. I'm Erthë... Are you looking for someone?"

Big girls cry when their hearts are breaking