Since her first venture away from the tender side of her twin, Hotaru had tasted the spice of independence and become nearly immediately addicted to its enticing promises. Every step that went undetected as she snuck away from her home, her sister, had given her a rush that made her feel naughty and alive. So she had left the Foothills, borders that did not quite yet smell of home with their changing newness. Instead, the forests of the wild had craned towards her, welcoming her like a well-known and well-loved friend. They knew her secrets, her pains. Every old oak and withered willow embraced her tiny frame, keeping her safe from prying eyes and shielding her from the heat of the sun overhead. Living in shadows most of her young life, heat was still something that made the dual-eyed beauty uncomfortable. Even so, Hotaru was dying to know about the ocean she'd heard about, and though she had no idea where she was going, pale itty-bitty hooves picked their way carefully through the undergrowth that was equal in her small height. The foliage caressed her frail shoulders and hips, dropping loving farewells of bright emerald parcels in her silvery locks. Hotaru did nothing to shake free the leaves that jumbled in her hair, thankfully not tying it up in knots that were awfully common for her Arabian breed. She would never disturb such pretty reminders, after all. Briefly she entertained the thought of the forest really living, breathing, recognizing her presence. Did it love her, as she loved it?

How long she had been walking, she didn't know. She'd started out in the dead of the night, and already the sun was beating down overhead. Shade kept her relatively cool, though the sunlight played tricks with the smooth strawberry of her wind-kissed skin. Eventually, even she could not deny the realization that the trees were thinning, and the sunlight grew harder to evade and ignore. Pushing on regardless, she stared in wonder at the strange ground beneath her hooves. It was...pale. Why was the dirt pale? And why was it all...grainy? Oh Gods! Was this the edge of the world?! Hotaru had heard of something called that, the World's Edge? If she stepped too far out, would she die?! Dual painted eyes widened, and she risked a few more tentative steps forward. So focused was she on not being sucked away into nothingness, which she was fairly certain was the huge mass of blue that stood proudly before her, Ru didn't realize there were others along the beach. What had drawn her eye was the floating speck of umber against the sapphire backdrop of sky, a flying reptile she knew quite well because of Ophelia. Gaping, she watched the dragon twirl and land softly upon the waist of a golden stallion that stood in the horrible nothingness. Squeaking softly in terror- not for herself but for the other fellow- she decided that if he was all the way out there the funny ground surely wasn't dangerous. Stepping out, she staggered on thin legs at the weird consistency of the earth...stuff beneath her. Wobbling, she finally gained her pace and went awkwardly running towards the aureate crafted man. Soft sounds of warning issued from her tiny, white-blotched maw, eyes big and scared as she ran to the edge of the water and stumbled on legs she still hadn't gotten used to. Whinnying softly, insistently, she pawed anxiously at the funny earth. "Mister! Mister! What are you doing?" she cried, eyes starting to tear up with worry and fear for him. "What is this? Is it hurting you?" It looked almost like a big lake, but the salty smell made her ears flicker back uncertainly, dancing backwards to avoid the incoming waves that lapped, to her, in a dangerous manner around her hooves. There was no end in sight, and it made the young girl want to dart out and push the unknown stallion back to safety, soft visage crumpled with so many emotions.

::ooc- oh gosh, that was terrible::