There is so much darkness, and so much death.

The form of the fallen pegasus is untouched yet broken, bloated and putrid and macabre and dead. Black eyes look over the scene, and the girl swallows bile and repulsion and hate. Copper child has never seen death before, not up close, not like this. Though life has fallen to Natraj's paws, it is small and simple and for a cause; even the vulpine is appalled by this murder, lingering near her golden hinds, ears pressed down and body still.

What purpose could there be in the grey mare's death? What reasoning behind such senseless hate? Black eyes ache to look away, to hide from this first taste of mortality and its flaws; but the girl holds true, endless gaze trained upon the rotting corpse. She wonders who the stranger was, what was her name and who were her friends? She wonders if she was loved, or loathed; if her memory will be cherished or forgotten on the wind. Perhaps this mare was a mother, or perhaps she was a fiend- or perhaps, indeed, she was both. Now nothing was left of her to judge, nothing but a name spoken by the Earth.

At last she lets herself look away, attention shifting to the celestial audience. Moon-slashed face turns to the assembled Gods and their progeny, recognition bright for all pairs but one. She shies away from Mesec and the Moon, offers a quiet nod to Hototo and the Earth, longs for the warmth of Aithniel and the Sun, and regards with caution the Time Lord and his child. She had not known the desert babe to be the daughter of her God and Light; the knowledge makes her uneasy and aware of how she failed. Will she lose the favor of the one bright thing she regards, a cost for her sins and a price for her naivete? She thinks she deserves to, but she prays she will not.

Attention falters and ears pick up, taking in the voice of the Earth. She thinks the words are for her alone; they strike her, filling her breast with harsh resolve. Yes, of course they must find the cause. Vesta's death brings an end to one life, but there is somebody out there who must be judged, a darkness to vanquish and a battle to fight. Whoever did this deserves not to go free, and perhaps in finding them she can prove herself, can regain the regard of deities lost. This, she decides, is an ample reward. It ignites a purpose within her soul, stubborn determination lining her cheeks.

And she does not have to do it alone. Caneo, she knows, is not far away, and something warm swells within her at the realization that she has a friend to help. She wishes Sacre were here, and Amaris and Lace; but at least, at least, she is not on her own.

In her mind an irked voice resounds. I'm here, too, her brother declares, finally emerged from his hiding place beneath her belly. And Hotot maybe friend. Maybe help. She softens despite herself, and nods, casting a hopeful glance toward the Earth God's son. Maybe she is less alone than she thought. Maybe she has more to protect than just her herd, more to care about than just the world.


Teenage Awkward Ninja Turtles
Tandavi
Caneo
Hototo