The gilded mare didn’t know how long it had been since she ventured beyond the Edge’s borders. The last time she had done so, Kaos was revealed, and it was before she had birthed her precious child Safiri and suffered the intense worry of her life as she grew. The concern laced the creases of her eyes, her brilliant cerulean gaze was now faded, glinted with a gleam of darkness that couldn’t be placed. Her flesh was taut, tight against her bones as she moved. She had gained a bit of weight since her encounter with her son, remembering the light of her life as she spoke with him. Regardless of what happened between her and her lover, she needed to be okay, and if for nothing else, then for her children.

The day was a hot, humid one. The sun was in the middle of the sky by the time Rexanna had made it to the Thistle Meadow, a place where so many memories had occurred. Both good and bad, as was with most of Helovia now. Yet, Rexanna chose to focus on the good. This was a place where she had met so many, swam within the river, enjoyed the sounds of the birds as they sang from above, the faint knocking sound of woodpeckers up in the treetops. It was beautiful. Even when she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine herself a few years back, innocent and different. Not like she was now, when she worried for every little thing, of how the world viewed her.

Perhaps she preferred the idea of being the King’s Lover who lived in a different herd. Though while she liked the Edge, it didn’t feel as much at home as it did in the Basin. It grew easier when she saw Thranduil’s face, after helping him endure his traumatic experiences. But she hadn’t seen his face in quite some time. She worried for her friend, as she was sure many did. She hadn’t even seen her children’s faces in some time, either, aside from Kianzo. They had grown so big, towering over their mother with their mirrored, kindred faces. Faces of which that made her miss her firstborn all the more, just another ghost in her mind, lost yet tangible, and painful to watch vanish.

Marembo, her marbled polecat companion, had tried so hard to keep her mind on different things. It was weighing on the tiny creature, almost too much for him to be able to handle. Though, he prided himself with the fact that he could at least provide some outside perspective, to keep her in the know as well as provide decent conversation. It was actually his idea to bring her to the Meadow today, to ensure that Safiri was growing strong and well enough to handle being on her own for short bursts of time. And besides, he was terrified at the idea that if Rexanna didn’t change anything, that she might simply wither away into nothing.

He squealed in excitement as he scampered through the tall, lush grasses toward the river, causing a small chuckle to escape from Rexanna. It was like music to his ears as he splashed into the water, a long fuzzy snake-like creature, playfully dancing in the shallow end, swatting at bugs that arose with the anger of his rude awakening. Rexanna followed him closely, her head lowered slightly toward the small polecat, nudging his cool, wet fur playfully before stepping into the river. It felt cold at first, causing her spine to twitch with the feeling, but it began to become oh so soothing for the mare with aching joints; never mind the fact that she was dirty too. As she stepped further into the water, coming up to her chest as it splashed against her dark C marking, engraved into her pale skin, she closed her eyes contently. It began to wash away the small patches of dirt, sweat, and debris that had managed to linger there from her isolation.

After a few moments, she lowered her head and the rest of her body under the water, letting the fast currents rush over her skin and through her dual toned mane, cleaning the dirt from her face, mane, and the golden chains that she wore across her body. Then, when she lifted her head again, she finally felt at peace.

"Talk?"

rexanna

time stops still and gives you hope.
that hazy due, so black so blue,
you were always the fool.