so i listen to the    wind for an answer

The mare that comes out of the trees is far larger than Lyanna, though she thinks nothing of it. She’s rather used to feeling small around the Edge, with Tembovu towering above her for one, let alone many others. Size has never been an indicator of beauty to Lyanna. The black and white mare – who introduces herself as Vertigo – is in fact rather beautiful in her own way, and Lyanna’s teal eyes linger momentarily on the flowery vines that weaver through the mare’s antlers.

But soon her eyes switch to the boy, who is entirely too young to be alone here, but she’s quickly beginning to realize that happens a lot in Helovia. It is not unusual for her to find some child standing alone in a crowd, and she’s begun to think everyone just feels shockingly safe here. Even though sometimes, that is anything but true. As a whole, Helovia does feel safe. The herds feel untouchable. But she knows that such feelings are deceiving, lulling them all into a false sense of security. Nothing is as safe as it appears. She would know, after all, her own home the picture of peace and safety, ripped apart with a few well places knives.

The boy says his name is Pat, and asked for stories. Tiamat – the sea mare who introduces herself and the whale at her side – begins to speak first, and Lyanna listens attentively, not interrupting. Tiamat goes on to talk of where she is from, stating she’s a healer, and Lyanna’s eyes warm a little more at this knowledge. She has yet to really get to know the healers of the other herds, though she would like to. It would benefit them all to open lines of communication and herb trades, since each herd had many different things to offer.

Tiamat invites them – though largely Vertigo, she’s sure – to see the lights. At this, Lyanna smiles a bit more, nodding at Tiamat. “I have seen those lights in the sky, and they are more beautiful than words can describe. Though I don’t come from the Basin. I live in the World’s Edge and serve as a healer there,” She casts a quick glance to Tiamat over their shared profression before continuing.

The name very much suits the land. It is largely forested and often misty, though the trees plenty of shelter from the worst of the elements. But our one border is a cliff, and the view is endless and magnificent. You would be welcome to see it as well, and stay if you wanted to call the Edge home. But we would not ask you to make that decision lightly, or quickly, if you did not want to.”

Lyanna’s smile is kind warm, her words genuine. Because she remembers being in Vertigo’s shoes, remembers having no idea what the names of these places meant that others simply threw at her. She’s chosen the Edge because they’d offered her a place to get her bearings, and in the end, she’d decided to stay. They had welcomed her without question, and though some days she struggled to feel like she belonged, it was not the fault of her herdmates, but her own heartache for the family and the life she had lost.

lyanna