Acceptance tickled my ears and made me giddy. I hadn’t expected to walk away from the depths of the Threshold with Astraea in tow, but the feeling of such success lifted my heart. I smiled warmly to the girl before gesturing to Evangeline so that we might all make a quick departure for I had no intentions of waiting around for Thranduil or Sikeax to protest the mare’s decision. I’d been impressed with the Basin stallion’s magical display, but it did little in the way of convincing anyone else of his might… In fact, it appeared as though it was ignored all together. Besides, everything seemed to happen so quickly and without reason that I hadn’t much time to think about it until moving away from the claiming grounds (not that I was not satisfied in doing so). However, as we breeched the mouth of the forest, a flash of distinct burnt orange caught my eye causing me to pause in my descent long enough to notice Tallis resting high above my head in the barren branches. When I looked back to my supposed companions, I noticed that Eva had fallen behind, presumably distracted by yet another lead that could potentially reveal another lost soul.

With an amused laugh, I motioned for Tallis to join her in her endeavors, knowing that he meant to warn me of their intentions to separate. Evangeline was such a peculiar thing and it was perhaps the thing I liked best about her, aside from her charming good looks… Turning back around, I resumed the path that would take Astraea and I back to the Edge while casually adding, “I guess she’ll have to find her way back alone.” I knew the starlit mare would understand our loose friendship because we had come to know one another since my return to the Edge. Besides, I wanted to get Astraea acquainted with her surroundings before nightfall and the frozen chill of its darkness. I tried not to spend our entire journey home in pure silence, but at times my mind wanted nothing more than to wander. I debated many things and tried to avoid others but everything eventually led me back to Astraea and soon I gave in to my desires and tried my best to fill our travels with kind assurance. “I believe that you’ll find the Edge to your liking dear, but my words alone would certainly fail to do it much justice so I’ll leave our lady to make her own first impressions.”

After what felt like an eternity, the World’s Edge finally loomed large before us. It beckoned softly behind the faint glow of the winter sun as the shattered glass wall shed broken strands of light along the icy grounds. They shifted and danced in the soft breeze and just beyond the mists waited eagerly for their newest recruit- no doubt giggling and squealing in their splendor until they might tickle the mare’s ankles in their usual fashion. Slowly, I turned to rest a curious gaze on the starlit lady, keen to witness her expression as she recognized what was soon to become a permanent fixture in her life. Though the crystalline wall concealed most of what lay ahead, I knew that the Edge possessed enough beauty even outwardly that Astraea would feel comfortable in the amenities she discovered there. “Just beyond is your home Astraea. Are you ready to call it such?”

A feeling of awe and satisfaction washed over me as I looked into the dark depths of Astraea’s clouded eyes. It was then that I recognized a familiar expression upon her face, one that I’d witnessed many times before in various different forms and wearing various different cloaks and names. But they were much the same when it came to recognizing our Great Lady’s beauty. The Edge would forever be my Queen and I her devout mistress, second to her figurative King, the Goddess of the Moon. I was vaguely aware of the star child’s attempt at conversation or perhaps compliment for our fair lady, but I had little else to offer her than a curt nod. Every land in Helovia possessed a natural magnificence, but one only knew their own place and their own heart if they could see the magic behind the mists or the sands or the ice or the dunes… This was how I knew that the star child was finally home.

Silently, I gestured toward the small passage that opened the World’s Edge to the land beyond and turned heel toward the entrance with a little effort. I knew that I would labor much more than the slight filly might upon the incline that eventually led beyond the shimmering glass wall. However, I’d grown accustomed to the trek since returning to Helovia and at times I missed the way my legs would quiver from the strain or the way my hooves my slide over the icy swells because of my obvious heft. I often warned others traveling with me to steer clear from my rear quarters in the off-chance that I lost my footing altogether; the starlit filly was no different as I rumbled at her from ahead. As if on cue, my back right leg slid from beneath me, but only enough to knock me off balance for a moment. “FrostFall is not a friend of mine”, I said to her with a slight laugh. However, I encouraged her to follow all the same.

When we had plateaued enough to examine the tree line of the dense forest beyond the initial entrance of the Edge, I paused in order to spend a bit of time getting to know the star child before sending her off for the night. “I’m glad that you find her to your liking and by she I mean the Edge. Don’t let her fool you Astraea, she and her mists will play wicked games with you if you let them. But don’t worry it’s all in the name of fun.” I winked at the filly to let her know that I was only joking and then picked up a swollen hoof in order to find better purchase atop the frozen grounds. A cool, winter wind lashed out around us and forced me to close my eyes to its strength but before I let the Edge take advantage of us, I moved closer to the forest in hopes that it would shield us from the rigid gale.

“I hope that you find everything satisfactory, but I was also curious to know if you had any interest in the ranking system here in the Edge? You could potentially study to be a Nurse, a Sleuth, a Protector, a Philosopher, or a Crafter. Each rank has their own set of duties and abilities, so why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself child? What interests you?” With a questioning gaze, I looked at the star child more than ready to delve into her figurative depths in order to pinpoint a possible route for her amongst our positions. We still had plenty of time before the sun grew dim and weary, so I decided to use it to best settle Astraea before the rest of the herd had a chance to bombard her with similar requests.

There was something naïve and simple about Astraea that I found myself growing quite fond of. The way she quietly mulled over my shallow jokes or the way she looked at me when I talked about the Edge; it was like everything was new and alive around her. She was so deeply intrigued by the thought of becoming part of something larger than herself that I was immediately taken with the young filly. Her desire for life and her willingness to devote herself to it so fully in spite of the many things she’d yet to understand. It was like a cool drink of water or a breath of fresh air… In truth, she was too much like Essetia. Or perhaps I liked to tempt myself with such threatening ideals. Of which sin I found more appealing I was still unsure, but they still hung loosely around me like flies- irritating but not so much so that I could not ignore them.

I’d tried my best not to bombard the young girl with too much information, but upon sharing our ranking system with her, she appeared to be more confused than ever. I didn’t expect her to know exactly what made our home function, but the least I could do was help place her in a position to choose her fate knowledgably. However, as most females tend to do, she caught me completely off guard by launching into a detailed account of her background. I could not blame her for feeling the need to unpack all that troubled her because I had once shared her shoes… In fact, as she spoke, my eyes softened and the murky pools of their depths focused solely on her. I could relate to her nomadic life because I too had sought comfort in isolation, but we shared the desire to return to society and to those we would take chances on again and again, if only to feel a connection or appreciation. I wanted more than anything to understand this filly even if I could not understand myself… This was her time of flowering and growing into all that she could and would be and I was intent to push her into such a situation.

When she had quieted, I let the silence create the space I knew she would need in order to recover from such a memory. Her life was a lonely one and a single day spent in my company would certainly do little in order to remedy that, but I had the will to make it otherwise. “I can assure you that you are wanted here. I can’t promise a smooth ride, but I can promise that you will find support amongst your peers. I encourage you to seek out each of our members individually because every single one of them will have a great tale to tell, myself included.” With a stunted smile, I moved on seamlessly. Of course we all had a story and I was sure that many would feel comfortable sharing their own, but I had no real desire to approach this youngster with my burdens. They were much to carry, but I still enjoyed their heft upon my own back for the time being.


I enjoyed remembering the pain that gave me the strength to rise above adversity.

However, with past angst forgotten, the star child moved on to more interesting sentiments. It was funny that I’d decided to refer to her as a star child since meeting her in the Threshold because her love of the stars was enough to ensure that I’d been correct in my depictions of her. After amusing myself with my abilities to knowledgably pinpoint another’s characteristics accurately, I nodded solemnly at Astraea in hopes that she would see my willingness to leave stories of her past to wither in the midst of our conversation before delighting in her shared love of puzzles. With fierce jubilance I laughed before complimenting, “I’ve just the thing for you then my dear.” Resting back onto my wide haunches, I took a moment to ponder how I might broach the topic at hand with as much ease and simplicity as I could muster. I didn’t want to confuse her again. “If you prefer solving puzzles, you might do well to look into becoming a sleuth. I’m actually one myself, though aiming for much more shortly. Together we could solve riddles posed by other herds or enemies in Helovia to protect the Edge. Your job would be to find out critical information and use it to keep other informants from taking from our family. Does that sound like something you would enjoy doing?” My eyes were alight with mischief and excitement for my new endeavor and I hoped that someone else would find such interests in the given position. I was intent on promoting as many sleuths as I could because, as per my tendencies, I liked to recruit everyone for just about anything…

Visions of Essetia’s childhood spent at my side flashed seamlessly through my mind. She had been such a carefree soul, so devout to her own mission… What an inspiring memory to harbor of someone. She had been my pride and joy and I felt no shame in admitting her power over me, after all don’t our children hold a part of us in their own hearts? I prayed that I was still somewhere in her soul after every sin I’d committed. However, I feared that an abandoned child was far more punishable than an abandoned herd. They would recover in numbers and my sweet offspring would have to suffer so much, alone. Agony tugged lightly at my chest as it rose and fell slowly in spite of the racing beat of my heart. I had so many wounds to mend and so many apologies to give and yet here I was, wasting the day away pretending that I was still somewhat relevant. My name was to be passed down by a young mare that I’d yet to see upon returning to Helovia… Part of me wondered if she was even still here.

Perhaps she had come looking for me, unsure of what she might find. She would find nothing of course, because I had left the wilds in favor of a comfortable life back in the Edge. However, I trusted that Romul, her companion, would do just as much as I to keep her safe. Or so I hoped… Astraea reminded me too much of my daughter and though they did no resemble one another physically, there was something in the way she spoke and the way the world affected her that made tears sting my eyes. No. I would not let this stranger reveal the emotions of my past- not here, not now. But of course, irony would not let me live my mistakes down and while I gazed incredulously down at the starlit child, I tried to find as many different ways to evade sharing myself with her as per her request. It’s not that my story was so heartfelt as hers, but rather it dredged up pain so fresh that I was unsure if I would be able to cage it away again after turning it free.

Attempting to clear my throat, I sighed while Astraea tried to make a roundabout apology for her intrusion. However, if I expected her to find a family in the Edge or in me, I had to be able to share my story with her. After all, even if she was new to our ranks, I held no doubts that she would eventually become an integral part of what we stood for. “My daughter… She was a bit younger than you when I left. Her mother had passed and the grief was so overwhelming that I thought it natural to abandon my own child… The guilt is quite overpowering at times young one. But this herd, our family… they have helped to remind me of who I once was. They are preparing me to face my mistakes one day at a time.” I’d chosen to keep it short and sweet because I’d wanted to keep the quiver of shame out of my voice… Weakness was not an option now and not ever.


It was strange how attentive the star child appeared as I droned over the many occupations she might decide to take part in during her time in the Edge, but it was endearing all the same. Her wide eyes, so bright and full of life, twinkled as I spoke and the more they shone, the more enthusiastic I felt. It was nice to see so much zeal in a specimen so young… though I suppose it could have been her age alone that made her appear so eager. However, when she started to mull over her answer, I noticed a mischievous look in her eyes that reminded me of myself… and when her conclusion was finally voiced, a sleuth!, I smiled proudly. Not only had I been announced as a specter only some time ago, I now had an apprentice in which to work with! Adjusting myself once more, I turned to face Astraea more fully with bright eyes. “That’s a fine choice dear. As your specter, I assure you that you will be prepared for all that comes your way Sleuth.” This was just the beginning of so many things. We had a lot to learn together and I hoped that I would be able to fulfill this position more aptly than I had when I was King…