With the coming dusk, Kahlua could not help but feel uneasy. She always did. Though it had been months since the sun had returned to Helovia, she still feared every night that it would not rise again in the morning. Therefore, on this particular evening, she had chosen to walk along the borders of the wall she had created in the not-so-distant past. In particular, she chose a spot near one of the campfires. Using one of the bundles of wood that Dragomir had removed from the path of the wall, she fed the fire so that it would burn more brightly. Around her, shadows began to dance through the trees as the sun finally set beyond the cliff wall and she couldn't help but shiver. Would she ever feel safe in the darkness again?

As she stood there by the fire, watching the dancing flames, she began to wish that one of her friends was near. Resplendence always made her happy. Brisa and Alysanne would have been welcome too. Or Kaj. The winged man had made her feel safe in the darkness before, and also in the terrible after math of the invasion. Still, she could not call to them every time she was frightened, could she? Shaking her head, the girl sighed and took a step closer to the flames. She rarely wished that she was anything other than herself, but tonight she wished she was more brave.

Suddenly, a whinny sounded. It was nearby, in the direction of the wall. The girl shuddered, wondering who it could be arriving her at night. Instantly her mind went to thoughts of the terrible beasts from the North. She was not smart enough to think that they would not announce their presence and instead would have just barged through the unfortunate opening in the wall. However, despite her fear, Kahlua wondered if she could do something to continue to prove herself worthy in the eyes of her leader. If it was an invasion, could she stop it? Perhaps not on her own, but she could sound the alarm. Right?

Cautiously, the painted girl picked up a trot and made her way towards the hole that allowed passage from the wilds of Helovia into the Edge. When the opening finally came into view, she slowed to a walk and moved as close to the wall as she could. She saw no one. They were still outside? Nervously, and ever so slowly, she peeked her head around the corner. There, she found no unicorn, but a pegasus. In the darkness she found it hard to make out his color, but certainly his wings of the purest white stood out from the blackness all around. He was from the Throat then? Suddenly, she was not so frightened. And a friend in the darkness did plenty to ease her soul.

“Hello, friend. I am Kahlua, the Glazier. What brings you to the Edge tonight?” Her voice was bright and dancing, though hints of her fear bubbled through at times. A simple, welcoming smile sat on her lips. Her emotions were fleeting on a normal day, so now that she was looking for anybody to save her from the night she was more than happy to accept this stranger as a welcome friend. With every second, her initial distrust of him faded away. Perhaps someday she would learn the lesson that not all strangers can be trusted. Hopefully, this was not that day.

Hi there! The stallion's strong voice met her ears and warmed her soul. It gave her the strength to step forward and display her whole body in the doorway- the doorway that she had made. The thought made her smile grow brighter. This wall was her child, and perhaps it was best that way. The wall did not require care and attention, at least not the same way a foal would. Repairs would need to be done, of course, from time to time, but expecting another to count her daily for life or death was, at best, a sentence to a long and miserable life. Kahlua was a free soul, an unchained wind that would rather spend her days chatting and befriending anyone than ooohing and ahing over a foal. Perhaps one day her mind would change, but she did not see it that way now.

“No, of course you haven't disturbed me,” she chimed in quickly after he apologized. It was true, after all. What did the girl have to be doing of any importance? Especially now in the evening. His comic grin made it easy for her to settle a smile on her face, though, and leave it there. Her face was bright with wonder and excitement at getting to meet a new soul. Miykael. The name repeated in her head several times, trying to help her brain keep name with face. She wasn't good at much, but this she was good at. And then he mentioned Xanthos. So she was wrong. He was not of the Throat, but rather a recruit, a new member. If she could have smiled any brighter, the moon would have retreated in fear that the sun had rose. If there was anything she loved as much as her trade, it was new recruits to the Edge.

“Of course! Well forgive me for blocking your way then. Please, come in!” She stepped back, allowing him room to pass through the opening in the wall. She was lucky this time. Walls didn't do much good if you just let strangers pass through the openings, but Kahlua was hopelessly trusting on the worst of days. If he claimed he was a new recruit, then that was what he was. Besides, she knew the desire to explore. How many days had she spent wandering through the wilderness after her acceptance into the herd? “Did you like what you saw, exploring?” She waited with eager ears to hear his story. These social interactions were what she lived for.