And through the darkness he ran. As though whipped by boggarts from the Heart the stallion raced across the land, blinded and uncaring that his feet slipped and stumbled over unseen obstacles, unfeeling towards the hidden branches and thorns that scratched and tore at the silvery hide. He was bleeding already from numerous cuts and bruises, pain burning in a shoulder that had taken the brunt of the crash as he'd toppled over in the forest. Like a fury he galloped at neck breaking speed, crying his heart out in a maddened way as though he was trying to challenge any and all who could hear him, inviting them to a dance that would go on until the sun rose or they were all dead on the ground.
Was it fear, was it joy, what was this exaltation that filled him to the brim until he couldn't stand still, or was it something else? All he knew was that at one moment he had been grazing by the cliffs in the pale winter light, and the next a thick, suffocating darkness had fallen over the World. The everlasting mists had begun to gleam more brightly than ever, they had lifted up and settled among the canopy of the forest... and something had disappeared within him. A weight had been lifted off his shoulders and Lace felt lighter than he'd done in a very long time. Yes, it was joy that made him run. Happiness over the disappearance of the accursed magic that forced itself upon him, relief that he once more could bleed and hurt like any other mortal being - and a giddy, panic stricken fascination over this new, nightly world that may or may not be what was going to rule from now on.
The gold-blessed tree-cursed former warrior ran out onto the cold sands of the shore, burst from the blackness of the trees like a rabid beast with a shrill scree of exaltation. Closely followed by a shrieking white dragon he thundered down the shoreline, so close to the water that the pounding hooves splashed the liquid high upon his knees and chest, chilling the skin until sweat and blood streamed down the legs. He ran until the lungs felt as though they were about to burst and kept running, intent on continuing until the legs gave in under himself. He barely registered the dark shape beneath the glowing trees as he blazed by, and it might have been a coincidence that he shook the head and made a leap through the air just then, as though challenging the silver-lined shadow to a race.
Or maybe it wasn't. At least the pale dragoness took notice of the unicorn and the fireflies, and the sharp trill she let out was decidedly an invitation to join them. What could be more freeing than to beat through the shifting sands and forget everything for a moment, to just move forward and allow the heart to do the talking.
And then they passed in a cloud of sand and water, and the sound of hooves and heavy breath echoed in the air as their shapes faded into the darkness.
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