The Edge. In all his time spent in Helovia, he had heard little of this territory on the northern shores. However, he knew of its towering white cliffs and magnificent forests, and the fact that it seemed to so closely resemble his birthplace had finally drawn him toward it. He had spent months now on his own, without a place to call home or a herd to call his family. He had grown lonely in his wanderings, drifting about the north like a shadow with no body to attach itself to. He could no longer bear the life of an outcast and of all the places he could go, the Edge seemed the most suitable.

Already, he liked the look of it. The sun had risen little more than an hour ago and Murdock had begun his journey south from the Steppe under the cover of darkness. The air was cool and crisp, silver frost lining the grass and the edges of leaves and mist hovering above the ground like an earth-bound cloud. The sky was pink and calm, painted with shimmering, wispy clouds that promised fair weather for the rest of the day. The chill of Orangemoon was a pleasant change from the heat of summer, and already the trees had begun to dress themselves in warm hues of amber and auburn.

As he drew closer, a glass wall appeared, rising high above him and piercing the frozen earth like jagged bones. It stretched on in either direction as far as he could see, curving away into the distance as mist crawled along its surface. At one time, it must have been truly magnificent. However, now it lay in ruin, the smooth surface burnished by cracks and bearing gaping holes as deep wounds. He stepped toward it softly, frosted grass crunching beneath silver hooves as he approached a large opening. The glass was stained pink by the light of the sun, filtering through the cracks at odd angles and casting jagged, rosy shadows across his dark hide.

He stepped carefully through the hole, dipping his head beneath the fractured archway and pulling his wings tightly against his sides. Home, he thought as he emerged on the other side, breathing in deeply and inhaling the thick sent of pine trees and a hint of salt from the nearby ocean. Could this place be his home? Excitement welled up within his chest as he looked around, mist swelling between tree trunks and swarming about his legs as he stepped cautiously forward. If he closed his eyes, he could pretend nothing ever changed at all. He could pretend he was still in Evendim with his family not far off, lost in some coastal forest on one of his many childish adventures.

Yes. He could call this place home. Here, he would wait. As the air warmed and the sun rose higher, surely the members of the Edge would begin their daily tasks, bustling about along the cliffs and toward their borders, scouting for intruders or wayward wanderers. It would not be long before he was discovered, and for now, he would be content to wait.

"talk talk talk"

The silence of the forest, ever since the arrival of the floating sky island, was overwhelming on some days. Kahlua thrived on hustle and bustle, positively lived on being in contact with others. Solitude was not good for her mental health by any means, and she had taken to pressing her nose into bushes periodically, just to rouse the birds and create a clatter. Truth be told, she’d rather be back on the island herself; it was only her duties as queen that found her drifting back towards the draconian forest. It wouldn’t do to have some vagabonds move into her land while she was busy having fun.

At least she had a different type of company this day. In her mouth, she carried the glass basket that she had made for herself so many seasons ago. Sitting within it was a small, mechanical box. It was not pretty, by any means, but the Sunshower found beauty in everything. Besides, the box played music, and there was nothing more beautiful on this earth than music. Pressing the button on the box, so that it might begin to play the tune that Ulrik had designed it to play, Kahlua hummed along to the song she had already begun to know well. Soon she might put words to the notes, but for now her soprano voice simply followed the tones that were provided. The clicks and whirrs of her metal scorpion, which rode along in her forelock, overlaid the music to create a strange harmony indeed, but Kahlua found it to be charming.

Besides, the music helped drive away the nightmares. She had risen early, roused from sleep by the painful reminder of Shilva’s death, followed by Antheia’s death, her mother’s death, her father’s death… There was evil everywhere, and it haunted her in her dreams. But at least the rising sun and its rosy hues could chase some of those nightmares away. The day was her savior, though she still bowed before the Lady Moon’s shrine. But as she was awake, it was time to continue her work.

Traveling to the wall, which she was more than ready to see torn down, the queen began her track from west and headed east. It was a path she knew well, one she had trodden many times, and she did not imagine she would find anything different today. Imagine her surprise then, upon finding Murduck just yards away from where she had stopped to press the button on her music box once more. So she walked up to him, still humming, her box still tinkling, her scorpion still whirring, and she smiled kindly to the pegasus who had crossed their borders without fear.

“Hello friend, I’m Kahlua,” she called to him as she approached, her blue eyes taking in the majesty of his black and green frame. He was a handsome creature, to be certain. “How can I help you? I’m afraid most of our herd is gone to the island,” she followed up with, certain that he was on a mission from another herd. What he wanted from the Edge was beyond her guess, but she could be patient until he responded. So she stood with a silly grin on her face, just happy to see another body in the forest.

Kahlua

Murdock waited patiently, hardly noticing the time slip by as the sun rose for all the curious things around him with which he could entertain himself. He studied the lopsided spruce, the mist as it dispersed under the sun’s rosy gaze, the clouds that had begun to stretch overhead as they were tugged by the wind like cotton. This was such a beautiful place; he could hardly imagine how he had not come to find it sooner. Alone in the cool, shaded forest, he felt truly relaxed as he had not for many months. Finally, he had found somewhere he could be safe.

The distant echo of soft music pulled him from the depths of his mind and he turned his attention to the other side of the wall. The tune was clear and cheerful, unlike any sort of thing he had heard before or had imagined it possible to create. Emerging from the mist, he could see a painted mare break from the shadows, dense vapor spinning and twirling in her wake as she stepped through the hole in the glass to join him. He regarded her silently, his jaw hanging open perhaps the smallest bit as the Queen approached him with a warm smile.

She was as ordinary as any other creature in this land, but what struck him so was the array of trinkets she carried with her. Hanging from her mouth was a delicate glass basket, woven carefully and taking on the same rosy hue as the wall behind him. Lying within the basket and emitting the sweet tune along with which she had been humming, was a small tarnished box. He watched it for a moment, speechless in the silence that followed her greeting, until he found his manners once more.

He dipped his head politely to her, assuming that she must be a member of the Edge. “Good morning,” he replied softly, lifting his gaze to her welcoming smile and pale blue eyes. He was taken aback once more as he caught sight of the small scorpion perched upon her crown, its body moving as if it were alive though it was entirely made of metal. For a moment, he considered alerting her to the presence of the creature. Perhaps she had not noticed it there and would appreciate being informed of the insect on her brow. However, more likely than not, her slender ears had picked up its rhythmic whirring and clicking.

He lowered his gaze to meet hers, a broad smile returning to his face as he decided he quite liked this curious mare and her strange collection. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Murdock,” he dipped his chin, rosy light spilling across the curve of his neck as he lowered his head. She spoke once more and he listened with interest as she mentioned an island. He was unaware of this island she spoke of, but that was of little interest to him now. Fortunately, she was a member of the Edge, and most likely she could help him join their ranks.

He was unsure of how to request a position in the herd; it was not a question he had ever had to ask before. However, he decided to do away with his worries as wording had never been his strong point anyways. “I would like to join the Edge, if you would have me. This is a beautiful home you have here and I would like to contribute my abilities to your family,” he paused briefly, taking a deep breath and tasting the salt on the air. “I have been trained to fight my whole life and I hope I could be useful to you.” He smiled again at her, the music playing softly in the background as birds conversed in the gilded trees.

"talk talk talk"

She did look rather like a hoarder or an eccentric soul, carrying her basket and music box and scorpion toy. But she was not so much a hoarder as she was a collector of sentimental objects. The glass basket had been one of the very first things she had ever crafted and was a reminder of her days as Glazier here, instead of queen. The scorpion was a toy gifted to her by (who she imagined to be) a friend of sorts and also a reminder of the hopefully good will between the Edge and Basin. And the music box, well it sang, and that was sentiment enough for the painted woman who, more often than not, had the head and heart of a child. At least she meant well.

Settling her basket to the forest floor between her hooves, she bobbed her head to his greeting, more-or-less oblivious to the look he had given the scorpion toy. Murdock, she repeated to herself several times, a habit of hers to help her remember names. There were so many to remember, after all- friends, acquaintances, allies and enemies; children and elders, those who had gone from their lives and those who had returned after mysterious absences. But for all the names in her head, Murdock was not one she had heard of before. Not that it offended her, she was as happy as a clam in the ocean to meet a new friend.

And she liked him instantly as he continued on- what was there not to like about someone who wanted to join her home, after all? “Well we’d love to have you!” she exclaimed just as soon as he had finished talking, entirely oblivious to the fact that he might be a spy from who-knows-where coming to steal their secrets. Nobody told lies, in Kahlua’s head. “Our aim is for peace,” she added then. “So if you think can help us achieve our goal of a peaceful Helovia then you’re more than welcome. We’re even trying to start over with the Basin,” she frowned for a moment. She still did not trust Illynx entirely, but it was not in her nature to hold grudges forever.

But he had specifically asked about the warriors and so she provided him information that might prove more useful to him. “Archibald and Ktulu are in charge of the warriors, they may yet be here.” She liked them both well enough, though she hadn’t had much time to converse with either. Surprising, really, since she spent so much time conversing with others and generally being a source of much of the chatter in the Edge and the surrounding areas. “Oh! Forgive me!” She exclaimed suddenly, as she realized she had left out another important bit. “I’m the queen of this land, and Kaj is our king.” But for the love of everything, she hoped he wouldn’t bow or treat her differently. All she wanted to do was be normal. So, with introductions over, she hoped they could get on to more interesting conversation.

Kahlua

Murdock watched as she digested his words, lowering her head to set the glass basket upon the mist-shrouded ground so she could speak to him again. Her voice was cheerful and kind, much like the music from her strange box and the chatter of the birds in the treetops. The sun had climbed higher into the sky as they spoke, casting less of a rosy hue and more of an amber glow across the forest. It filtered down through the thick boughs of spruce to spill into the mist below, staining the shattered wall a diluted shade of gold.

She told him of their mission; peace. Having been raised in a country that was often at war, it was not something he had become too familiar with. However, it was something he had sought ever since his arrival and finally, it would seem, he had found it. The Grey had aimed for diplomacy as well but their means of achieving it had involved the use of mercenaries such as himself. How did the Edge go about establishing their treaties and contracts? Much more civilly, he imagined, given the kindness and innocence of this mare before him.

But it got better. They were trying to start over with the Basin. Murdock’s ears perked at the mention of the northernmost herd, the one Chernobyl belonged to. Perhaps if relations were good between the two herds, it would not be so difficult nor so frowned upon for him to visit her in her snowy home. Perhaps then they would not have to be so afraid of discovery and the consequences that might follow such an event.

He nodded his affirmation eagerly; he was a peaceful creature at heart and took immense joy in such simple and childish things as watching the sun set or exploring the shadowed depths of the forest. The most trouble he was likely to cause would be the disturbance of a bee hive whilst he attempted to nap beneath some bent and mossy tree. Though the role he had been trained in since he was a colt involved violence and domination, Murdock was neither cruel nor unjust and preferred to settle disputes with words if he could ever find the right ones to say.

Kahlua captured his attention once more with the mention of Archibald and Ktulu. Since the Grey had fallen apart, he had not heard anything of where his former herd mates had gone. Evidently, some of them had come to the Edge. Perhaps he would find old friends here, though he had never been close with either of the warriors. After Archibald had left, Murdock had taken his position of General, though it had been short lived. He had never been much of a leader anyway, though he had been honored to accept the title.

His eyes widened slightly at her mention of being Queen; they had been standing here all this time and he had been unaware that she was head of this territory? “Good thing I was minding my manners then,” he laughed softly, flicking his tail about his hocks and stirring up the mist around their feet. Not that he was ever rude, but this time he had been on his best behavior. His thoughts returned to something she had said before, some place he had not heard of and in the silence that followed, his curiosity got the best of him. “What was this island you mentioned earlier? The place you said most of the herd had gone to?”

"talk talk talk"

Did she share too much, did she give away secrets that were better left unsaid? Maybe, but did she notice? No. Would she have cared if she did notice? Certainly not. Everyone was a friend, everyone was worthy of trust. Would it be her downfall? Definitely. But her tender, open heart had not led her astray yet. So now, as she looked at the fanciful pegasus before her, she only felt joy at the prospect of one more to add to their family. Did he bring darkness or secrets or shadows or enemies with him? Maybe. But it didn't matter. The past did not make a difference once you crossed the glass boundary.

The tinkling of the music box slid to a lazy halt as Murdock nodded to her, agreeing to a peaceful life even as a warrior. How she was so lucky to find so many that wanted an easy, peaceful life was beyond her. Perhaps the gods themselves sent the gentle souls to the glittering borders of the Edge, knowing that the Qian would always have a home for them here. But no matter the way they knew to find her here, Kahlua was not sad to have them. Even the trees seemed happy at Murdock's acceptance, rustling with a gentle breeze as if welcoming to his new home.

“Never mind manners!” she exclaimed suddenly (loudly), tossing her head wildly, which of course sent the scorpion creature scuttling down her neck to rest more safely upon her withers. She was so tired of manners and niceties, of everyone treating her differently because she was queen. She had not asked for this job, had not fought or challenged for it, had not slunk in the shadows to thieve it out from underneath Mirage's hooves. She had been gifted the position by the Lady Moon herself but would she have taken it if she knew everything that came with the job?

“Do you want to walk?” she in answer to his questions, tossing her head again and then setting off with purpose towards... nowhere. Except three steps in she suddenly stopped and turned back, bouncing back to her basket to nose it closer to her wall. And then, just because what was life without music, she pressed the button once more before bouncing back the other direction. Never mind manners, indeed, as she acted a fool. But as she disappeared back into the woods, the music played behind her, a happy exit song.

But anyways- his questions. “You haven't seen the island yet? Oh, it's just fantastic. You see, it's just... floating! Right about the gods' shrines!” And then she proceeded to chatter about just how strange it was to float up on clouds, but it was like flying, and she actually kind of liked it. And how there were cherry blossoms everywhere, and tents for each of the herds, and a strange little turtle who held a race and the Edge had held a party! Poor Murdock. By the time he was done he was surely sorry he had asked at all- but at least he had likely gotten a good look at his new home.

Kahlua

The soothing music from the small box slowly slid to a halt, leaving them in silence once more save the faint rustling of leaves in the wind. The air had begun to warm now as the day progressed, golden sunlight filtering more strongly through the trees down to the forest floor where it would soon burn off the mist that lingered around their feet. Murdock looked around at the trees, the dark coniferous and the slender aspen and cottonwood that had begun to take on new and vibrant colours. He turned his gaze toward the gap in the wall through which he had wandered, eyeing his dark reflection in the scarred glass. He had only seen a small portion of the Edge and already he was in love with this place. What would he think of it as he progressed farther into the territory?

Her invitation to walk was accepted with an enthusiastic nod and Murdock stepped off toward the trees to follow her. After nudging her glass basket closer to the towering, tarnished wall, she set off the music once more before bounding toward him and disappearing into the shadows and mist. Eagerly, he trotted after her, pulling his pale wings against his sides as the boughs grabbed at his feathers and mane.

She answered his question as they walked, winding their way about the thick tree trunks and brushing past thorned shrubs toward the scent of the sea. This island surely did sound like a fantastic place, and he decided he would visit it after getting accustomed to his new home. He was eager to meet his herd mates, see old friends and make new ones. And of course, he was eager to see this floating island! He had never heard of such a thing and it would likely be a sight to behold.

The music slowly grew quiet as they moved farther from the wall and deeper into the forest, but silence did not find them as his Queen continued to talk on and on about this island and the wonderful things that were to be found there. He didn’t mind her chatter, though, nodding and smiling as she spoke and he kept pace with her through the trees toward the cliffs and the sea. They wandered on through the morning, covering much of the herd land as the sun rose and the sky turned to a brilliant shade of blue. He certainly liked this place, and he was glad that Kahlua had found him by the glass wall.

"talk talk talk"