A P O L L O

And how can you say that your truth is better than ours?
Shoulder to shoulder, now brother, we carry no arms

His visit with the God of the Earth had shaken him to the core. Never had he met a God before, especially the God that he worshipped so readily in both body and mind. Father Earth's words echoed within Apollo's mind, dancing within his head, and for the first time in quite some time, the black and white overo felt at peace.

He had been given a task, he had been given direction, and he would see to it. But where would he go? Apollo knew of many individuals who held the special honor of walking with a companion... Ktulu, Ophelia, Archibald, Lakota. Surely there were many more within this land who could help him? But how would he find them?

Upon leaving the sacred land of the Gods, the Merciful had ventured north-eastwards, bypassing the Thistle Meadow and the Heart with little more than a glance. Through the cover of nightfall he had traveled, simply because the heat of the harsh Tallsun days were growing too difficult and stifling to traverse through. It almost seemed like with the return of the sun, the Sun God had latched onto Helovia with a vice-like grip, thrusting his return upon them with over-eagerness. Not that the overo was complaining, certainly not... He had missed the bright ball in the sky, after all.

It was nearing dawn when Apollo arrived at his destination; the Deep Forest. It had been quite some time since he had last stepped foot within these woods... Once, it had been his home. It had been safety. The thought caused the stallion's heart to clench in his chest. Things were so much more simpler back then, weren't they? Back before the Grey invaded the Foothills, snatching the land for themselves... And to what? To neglect it? To crumble beneath the burden that came with having a herd?

A curse and a blessing...

Regardless of what had happened then, this was a new time. Things were different. Sucking in a deep breath, honey-brown eyes full of determination, Apollo pushed his way through the thicket of trees. Branches would caress and pull his sides if he grew too close to the nearby trees, but the stallion didn't mind. It was as if the trees were welcoming him home, like the loving embrace from a distant relative. Dipping his head to avoid snagging the crystalline appendage of his horn upon a low-hanging branch, the Chief smiled.

"Pardon," he murmured to the tree, eyeing it with affection before continuing on his path. It was good to be home.

[ooc: Sorry for the rambly post. Quest thread for @[Archibald] and Loretta! :D Thanks for helping, Time! <3]