Life went on, and under the guise of ruler life seemed tripled in speed.

The Throat grew larger with each passing Tallsun night, harboring chorus of lost souls trying to find their purpose in this cruel yet beautiful world. Some only passed through on a pilgrimage; others stayed for a time then moved on. Sometimes a youngling would cross the wall brimming with expectations and a thirst for glory. Greenhearts would end up in the ranks of warrior, some might become healers if they were a tender soul. I stood by the idea that there was a place for every willing creature, a throbbing heart could be trained to beat to a rhyme of loyalty, passion.

Eventually I grew tired of patrolling because of a disappointment that was growing stronger with each new eve. My heart needed a break from the same endless todo’s. Ktulu. Just as strong as the yearning to see her again was— that same emotion was tainted with dread. She hadn’t come to visit me a single time since my return, nor had there been rumor of her concern for personal wellbeing during the passing months. I tried not to think the worst, but it grew harder as days turned into weeks.

Fina gently pinched my coat, a vain effort to make me feel better. I could feel her gaze continuously watchful for any mishap that would send me hurling over the edge of reality. We both feared that another trip into a time lapse would be fatal. I didn’t figure such would repeat itself, but then again it wasn’t figured that my first visitation would have ever happened. “You worry much,” she said. I frowned and gazed down a slopping hill we happened to be standing upon with rising sadness. This same mound had taught Cera and Hototo how to glide. Those had been happier days, “You can still find happiness.”

“Fly,” she urged, spreading wing from my spine, “fly fast, and forget.” I turned her way long enough to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be one of those rare smiles. Perhaps she was right. I charged downhill, gold followed were each dagger dug mercilessly into earth. My own mighty appendages flung out toward the light, a strong northern breeze filled their empty hollows and away into heaven we went. Funnels of hot air carried us higher into the patched sky, I smiled. This was living. The sound of wind and wing, the smell of snow carried from high up north.

We spun round, a game of sky tag that I always seemed to lose. A phoenix was much smaller and thus swift, she laughed—to my ears the sound was like leaves rustling in the trees, to those that would hear it without a bond… it was a raptor cry. Our games wouldn’t last for long, something…rather interesting caught my eye. Turning gaze toward the sailing ground I locked sight of a…by earth what was that!? Fina caught my lapse and came near. She peered down with me and hissed quietly to herself in displeasure, “Trouble?” she asked.

A question that couldn’t be answered, at least not by me.

Unable to resist the overwhelming need for answers, I carried us lower and was forced to thump harder to compensate; call it natural curiosity. I was also wary about things that traveled so close to Throat’s border. It was an equine, or in some resemblance. A half breed of sorts. With extra hooves, a short muzzle and…no… head? Yar, I thought, there was a head. Just not a horse’s head.

For a moment I could live without thinking about her. Ktulu. I could live with distractions, constant and continuous distractions. They wouldn’t ever know the hurt which plagued me; or how much I wanted to shrink inside—curl up as a child might against the oncoming storm. Only for a short period of time would the world release its hold upon me long enough to return sanity.

Suddenly the male creature did something rather extraordinary, he raised his hoof—his…whatever it was, in a waving manner. The way we might shake our heads or wave our tails back and forth. I stared at it, befuddled enough to want an even closer look. Despite Fina’s rather annoyingly loud objectives, my feet found grass moments later. Gold sprang with each prancing step before disappearing entirely.

Wings remained aloft, arching high from my body in the chance that whoever or whatever this was would attack and a speedy escape would be warranted. For a moment I stared across the short distance between us, (which spanned about fifty or so feet straight across.) There was two slits for eyes, (which seemed to be peering at me), a rather short stubby looking set of nostrils. No ears, just…little holes; and this weird line across the lower portion, just below the muzzle. A mouth for eating maybe?

What did it eat?

Surely it couldn’t reach the grass like that. For a moment a visual image of mutated horses rampaged my brain; their pathetic skinny frames. Unable to eat properly from the ground which sprang so much nourishment. Before an ounce of pity could whelp Fina hissed in my mind, her voice rising above the vision, “I smell meat, he has meat.” Blinking, I didn’t spare a glance her way but slyly I shifted my gaze to the satchels he wore around the center. “He eats meat?”

Aloud I whispered, “How should I know?”

I wasn’t sure what to make of this stranger; and apparently he wasn’t sure what to make of me. The half horse like thing leaned ahead, I watched intently as he bowed down—mimicking a pose of reverence that didn’t suit my stature in this world. Said pose was for the gods alone; I felt my lips curl into a smile despite the fact that it was likely myself which should be showing the utmost respect for this spirit. In truth this wasn’t my first encounter with the unusual beings of this world—and obviously it wasn’t to be my last.

My musings didn’t last for long; apparently hushed words had been within earshot, a voice rocketed toward us with an excitement that made me start like a doe suddenly caught between wolves. “You can talk!?” Mouth flapped open and I felt Fina scurry along my neck, eagerly approaching the brim—her weight pressed against my head but I barely noticed. It took me a moment to shut my jaw as he muttered on; flapping his rosy mouth up and down. A short tongue was hidden behind jaws, and two canines poked out—like predator. His mane was short, choppy and didn’t run the length of his body; but some of it had invaded his....face, and was growing into some semblance of a beard that I had often seen unicorns and elders sport.

He finished mumbling, straightened and offered me another bow while speaking slower, steadier. His polite manner cooled the nervous race of my heart. Feathered limbs slide effortlessly into their protective sheath, I sighed as they fell tightly against my barrel. Right forelimb extended until my frame had fallen into a graceful bend that was due to return his polite gesture. Ivory tendrils lashed against my quarters when I rose again and met his distant eyes, “Midas, son of Therin and Belie. Soldiers of Dragon’s Throat.” Ah yes, it had been noted that he had mentioned his da and ma’s, “Whose names likely mean little to ye.”

“Ye has an equine tongue, are ye a spirit?” I hadn’t wanted to draw near, but the stranger had awoken a curious spark that wouldn’t be satisfied until fed proper tender.