While she was here in Helovia, Alysanne was determined to make the most of it. Unwilling to set out for Nocturne and spend years looking for it, she would stay here – explore. Perhaps she could make this place her home. She had seen how much Kahlua loved World’s Edge – it was the same love she had seen from Phoebe in Ferraden. Such pride in the land they lived in. Aly had felt that about those she knew and wondered if it was possible for her to feel loyalty to a place.

There was so much more to Helovia still to see – so she had left World’s Edge just before dawn. The last time, she had turned to the north and found herself in the Tundra – with Aleksandr. This time, she turned the other way – following the coast for a little bit before turning inland. She always preferred to walk than fly – enjoying the ground level view.

While the sun was still low in the sky she came across the most beautiful lake, rivalling the one back in Nocturne. The summer vegetation rustled in the morning breeze, willows letting their long limbs brushings the ground and the surface of the crystalline water.
She found a spot on the shore, sheltered from the already-warm sun by the boughs of trees and the bright foliage they were sporting at this time of year. Oh, the land was so beautiful. Feeling completely at peace, she folded her legs and wings and lay there on the shore – enjoying the simplicity of the moment.

It was chance that her eyes, matching the leaves around her, drifted to the opposite shore and spotted him.

Could it be? Could she really be that fortunate?

She laughed, a bright – delightful laugh that would have carried all the way across the lake. Quickly she scrambled to her hooves. In her excitement she started to walk into the water – absolutely dancing with joy as she pranced forward – but wading and swimming across the lake would take too long. So with a leap she took to the air, coming low to skim across the surface of the pool with a hoof as she aimed for the opposite shore. Right to him. She landed in the water, where the refreshing liquid came just below her knees – splashing as she raced herself to get to the shore.

“Mikey!” There was such delight in her green eyes as she finally found her hooves on solid ground and was embracing him. First Aleksandr, now Miykael? If this this trend continued, would all those she cared for end up in Helovia? Already there were fewer reasons for her to miss Nocturne – though she could never forget those that remained. Her sister, son, nephews and friends.

But now, one of her dearest friends was standing right in front of her and that was not a gift to be wasted. “I can’t believe it’s you!”