The canine and his Beloved trailed silently behind their guide like inquisitive tourists whose wide eyes seemed to give away their nostalgia in regards to Helovia. If one were to look closely they might recognize sureness in the mare’s step and the way she flowed easily across the swells like an elegant dancer in the midst of performance. However, Romul had other ideas as he flitted about behind them, weaving to and fro with his snout to the ground as if seeking something that he was utterly certain he would find. He wouldn’t of course because it was mere curiosity that set the wolf to task but he was momentarily deterred as Elsa, the queer white mare as he had come to know her, approached a shadowy cave that presumably led into the Falls. Both Essetia and her bonded paused nervously at its entrance debating whether or not to pass beneath the small stream of icy trickle that fell over the rocky crags of the cave’s demure face.

After what felt like an eternity Romul stepped forward to fall into step with Elsa and her little pet but when his mare didn’t follow, he turned to fix an encouraging gaze on her in hopes that a bit of nudge would set her to motion. With a small sigh, the badger-faced lady hopped across the threshold with a clatter of hooves against the rocky floor. Though she had missed most of the cold spray, she shuddered as a reflex from the ghostly presence of water upon her skin. Chuckling softly at Elsa, Essetia nodded enthusiastically before turning to glance at Romul with an assuring look. At least we’ll stay cool in the summer? The canine bristled slightly before ignoring his mare altogether. At times he could be such a pain…


“It’s lovely Elsa…” Essetia tried to pretend delight, but of course the land laid out before her had been one she’d imagined many times before along with the Edge and the Throat. She’d never truly been invited to the Foothills as she’d once known it, but she’d bordered it a few times. It seemed just as much a home to her as her home in the Edge and that was enough to sustain her. Romul had moved on to bigger and better things, including tailing Edgar as the little bird-like creature hopped along the frost-covered grass. The agile beast, with his nose to the ground, let little escape his curious eye and with Edgar as a figurative escort the wolf was quick to make himself at home. It’s nice.

The canine’s opinion of their new abode was something that set Essetia’s heart at ease and she smiled warmly to herself. However, Elsa was quick to talk business concerning her placement in the Falls… at least she was efficient. Looking around slowly in hopes of settling her nerves Essetia once again turned to Romul for help. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, wasn’t sure where she wanted to be… However, her companion was little more than a paperweight now as he danced along the icy dunes, again forgetting his mare and her troubles in favor of more interesting activities. Somehow, in her heart, Essetia knew that she wanted to serve and she wanted to earn her name through something more viable than crafting or healing…

So… she would fight. She would learn the trade and become something greater than her father. With a devious look, she glanced back to Elsa in her quiet way, after all she had been everything but conversational, and bobbed her dished face slowly. “I’d like to become a warrior.” Whatever reaction followed would be one forgotten because the big bay had begun to lose herself to her memories. This was her future and she planned to work as hard as she could to make a name for herself… one that her father would hear.