For the sake of a child she hoped a grateful, a good soul was taking care of it now. The red maned lived. Whether because the doe had at last closed her eyes, Death would come later, or the final rise of the sun no one could say. Alive. She was aware of it through each strand of charred tissue. When the sun had struck her eyelids, buried beneath, she had thought she must be dreaming. Moving her weary carcass, against the burning pain she broke free of the ash as a struggling newborn into the bright world. At last her bright silver irises able to search for whether this be heaven or hell, all she found was red landscape. She was in the Throat. She didn't belong here, but hadn't been released. After her near death experience she wasn't going to question all the hows and whys. It would be hard enough to drag her sorry ass around. Maybe, her brain would shut up. Maybe, Kri would tell her to simply leave. She wouldn't survive long like this....

Now facing the sunset, after a long week, she could not directly stare at its brightness. She had to look upon it, and marvel. It didn't seem real. Even if the orb was dropping in the horizon, it was still majestic after its great absence. It still burned. While it may have warmed her soul, it hurt her body. It made her want to go home where the cool breeze still rushed through the pines. Where patches of snow could be discovered, and she might figure out what was going on. Could she make it?

A lesson had been learned, trying hurt like hell. Being severely burned, it was all crusty now. On her throat, down her chest, trailing along her stomach, and down the back of her forelegs, the tops of her cannon bones. She appeared if she had taken a large dragon head on. Dark ears flattened to in the curves of her skull, and she wobbled further along the wall, knowing the entrance was near. It was the only thing she would force herself to do.

It was not a surprise to hear gentle sound of wing beats. It would have been wiser to try this in darkness, not fading light. The wall was long, and arriving terribly exhausted she had not remembered the entrance well. At the same time the red maned had chosen now to see who should really try to stop her. If her presence here was doing them good she could see them wanting to keep her. She didn't see the point. Keeping her wouldn't give them peace. Besides Faelene could make no promises of any neutrality that would be believed. Quiet times did not last long any way. Why not let her be off? Wouldn't it be a remarkable if she reached the Basin without renewing her wounds?

With stiff neck muscles, he best way to brace against the wounds, she doesn't offer a glance. They would see her or they would not. Focusing on her sluggish steps against the sand, and rough rock there are places that came to mind where she could rest along the way, hope to heal, and hide in this vulnerable state. She did not trust her magic to protect her, and might not until she knew the God of Spark had returned. Ears drawn back, she becomes aware of the careful stride now trailing behind her. The red maned stubbornly continues moving. They would have to stop her, even if she knows she is barely gaining inches while the other feet. When the gentle voice calls out, it does not take much for Faelene to follow its want. Every motion a reminder of her stupidity she halts, and gingerly tilts her head to see the Pegasus. This one does not sound like a soldier, after all.


Sure enough the lady must not be much younger than herself, but there is something that holds of a child. The face is white washed, full of light with a softness. It matches her voice perfectly. Faelene finds herself glancing twice to the blue eyes, finding the scare trace down her face. A battle wound no doubt.. The color of her mane catches her attention the most, similar to Kri's when she would have thought it white with her markings. The color of her body reminded her of the same shade of the wind keeper, since she knew it so well. An alarm suddenly went off in her head. A moment of disbelief, because this world was so terribly backwards. Why should she believe? It was the smile not one of pleasure, that made Faelene at least want to trust. This lady could surely call for a guard, the Resolute if she wanted. Honestly, Faelene wasn't scared of seeing the Commander again. If anything it might give some kind of closure to her conflicted intentions. If the Throat attacked her what would they prove? Shutting her eyes, letting out a exhausted breath she wondered what this aid would be. A distraction?

She only had to say her name, Onni, and the red maned understood. Brief surprise opens her silver eyes. The healer Levi had wanted her to see all along, and she could understand why. Collecting what was left of her composure, there was something strangely soothing just standing across from her. Maybe, she wasn't the Resolute's daughter. Faelene tried to survey her in a respectful manner, letting just enough interest show despite how destroyed her body was inside and out. The dark mare nodded at first in agreement. Yes, her chances were slim, but they always were. Surely, it seemed out of sorts she would offer to fix what was broken after what she had done. If Faelene accepted how would she ever make things right for all the wrong? "If you do both than I should want to repay you, but I don't know what would be even close to the value of freedom, and a tormenting wounds mended," she murmured. Empty promises. Lost amulets. Treacherous unicorn words. Yes, she could think of Levi but she could not summon him here. Even if the shaman simply helped her escape Faelene would still owe her. She was not without a heart, she always believed in repaying kindness.

Trust in Levi, and a belief she curses doubts aside. Could any worse happen? Surely it could, but she had made it this far. If the healer was going to change her mind, Faelene guessed she would not even have followed her this far. She would not instill hope to see it ripped. The red maned didn't believe anyone of the Throat was that cruel. Even if the image of Psyche's horn briefly flashed through her mind. That inky wisp of a mare made her eyes swift through the shadows as that Pegasus probably would have collided with ugly wounds. So calm was the painted lady, paranoia couldn't be fed to survive. That smile curves her maw, Faelene sees an understanding soul. As she draws near, inspecting, there is only the faint rise of dark sides.


Ears have not drifted from the healer, they are trained on her, curious and in want to an answer. Maybe, Faelene knows just what she means and maybe she doesn't. There was no forgetting that pale face now, and neither of the words exchanged. Simply the Unicorn nods.

The red maned has to conceal her fear. Heal with sunfire. It made perfect sense this bright creature would draw her power from the very sun, in his lands. Fire easily was a bad word to hear, it wasn't her mind instilling doubt, it was her body remembering. With explanation, and already affirmation to trust there is no going back. Instilling a clip of air she holds it, good enough indication she is as ready as she ever will be.

Light surrounds the Pegasus, and the instinct to run is put at bay. Never having been healed by the power of the sun, entranced, hypnotized she is drawn to the flames that grow, reaching out to the strands of ruined flesh. The flames surround her in a bright embrace, warmth working from the outside in. The dark lady has to shield her eyes, overwhelmed by more than light. Other healers merely altered her body not soothed her spirit. If there was an opposite feeling of hell this was it. The light started to fade, leaving her with serenity. This she thought had to do more with Onni than the sun. Did the kind hearted Pegasus know she had done so much more than fix her wounds? Silver eyes held onto the weary form now, wanting to convey anything. Run, she said, and don't look back. The red maned could not simply turn her back if nothing had happened. The dark lady did the only thing that felt right, she carefully stretched her nose to the white. That careful bump of noses. The greeting she had always given a friend, but this was a thank you, a fair well. The Unicorn did next as she was told. She broke into a run, under the fading red light out into the wilderness.

[end]