It was strange to be mindful of the darkness, but there was a feeling of something lurking in the shadows that Ktulu could not shake. Not since she had been a foal had she been fearful of the dark. Back then she would seek out her sister's comfort and sleep curled up with her, confident that whatever was out there wouldn't get her. Not when she had Phi with her. Not when her father was standing guard over her. Now she felt like she'd lost both. She and had sister had been at odds with one another more often than not and she had not spoken to her father since long before she'd taken the Foothills with her sister. Any thought that he might be proud of them was shaken off and left in the dirt. His honor would keep him from being proud of them. His honor would keep him from accepting her choice at being a mercenary. She could almost hear his chiding words. Fight for family. Fight for friends. She fought with her family and friends. She stuck by their sides.

What did her father do? He stood on a hill and watched. He walked away when the battle was over instead of fighting with his friends and family, whether it had been with her or against her.

He walked away instead of checking on his family to see if they were alive or dead. Or did they stop being family when they did something that he didn't like?

What kind of honor was that?

The dark mare snorted as she followed the dimly lit path from the sanctuary of her herd land to the beach. For the first time in ages she longed for the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the beach, the scent of salty air, and the feel of it against her skin. Maybe that would fill the void that had opened in her chest with the absence of her son, the tensity she felt with her sister, and the utter disappointment she felt toward her father.

Against her better judgment she had left Eytan in the Foothills with Ranjiri even though Lakota was watching over her. She didn't trust this darkness even if there was light, however minimal. A second set of eyes watching over her baby girl would not hurt anything.

Except maybe her.

Ktulu hesitated at the roaring crash of the ocean then proceeded once more, her pace going from the even walk it had been to a quick canter. The fireflies that had been nestled in her mane were jostled and took to the air, blinking and glowing as they trailed after her. She left the lit path and continued until she felt the cool water splash against her legs. Her stop was sudden and she blinked as her eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Her ears tilted back and she backed out of the water then turned, eyeing the beach until she saw one of the odd trees that offered a bit of light. She moved toward it, not stopping until she stood under its glow. Around her the fireflies continued to blink until they finally settled back into her mane and tail.