history is written
by the victors

It had been so terribly long since the harpy had visited the Threshold. It had almost became a foreign place, despite the fact that much of her childhood was spent in these woods. She knew them, before, by heart. The different trails that lead to every which way, and the quickest and easiest way to escape them. But that felt already like a lifetime ago, despite being so young. Kiada was not a girl anymore, and thus had become more cynical and thoughtful of how she spent her time, but something within her yearned for the simpler times of when she often visited the Threshold in hopes of returning home with new members in tow.

Perhaps it was Khairi’s first suggestion of returning that got the woman thinking, as she mulled over what to do next. Easily, she agreed, unable to come up with anything better for her time (and of course the fact they were close – far closer than she had been back when she lived within the icy tundra of the Basin’s valleys. The two set off, nothing particularly in mind for what to do other than possibly meet someone and offer them a home, or if nothing else, information. They trudged along like soldiers, Khairi flying above while Kiada roamed the earth, able to see from both land and air.

The girl finally began to feel relaxed as she walked by the familiar trees, having grown taller and wider from each previous visit. It was almost bittersweet in a way as the golden girl paused by a few trees she could barely remember, only capable of remembering them from the way Khairi had marked them on their earlier travels. He chimed a simple squawk in the air in his excitement before a sound intrigued them both.

First it was a faint voice, followed by a deeper, more sarcastic tone. It was then the ink dipped filly knew she should at least appear to them, perhaps offer some sort of direction. Khairi easily swooped down to the familiar spot on her withers, where small scars were born with callouses from where the bearded vulture’s talons consistently dug into her flesh. Among her spine, flames erupted in various forms of deer, her curiosity leaking through.

“This is why you need wings.” The princess paused in her step as she listened to the rest of the words uttered by the strange pale man. “It not help. Still confusing.” Came the raspy voice from Khairi through their bond. A small smirk grew on the girl’s pink splattered lips before fading nearly immediately as she broke through the tree line, dipping her ivory striped face in greeting. “Welcome to Helovia.” She began, pausing as Khairi crooned his own greeting. “I am Kiada and this is Khairi. Is there anything we can help you with?” She questioned with a tilt of her head, her voice taking on a sickly sweet tone. She wasn’t really one for helping people if she got nothing out of it, but she’d play along on the off chance she did.

"Talk."

kiada