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will you still love me when I'm not young and beautiful?
Sigunn merely offered a gesture of indifference as Serenity did not recognize the name of her homeland, the name of the realm that had once roused pride and nationalism in her heart. Now its connotation was one of sorrow and confusion; she wanted it all back, but what she had lost could never be properly recovered. It was difficult to find the strength to spread her wings and lift herself from the earth, but a warrior does not surrender so easily. She took a few brisk steps forward at a trot before launching herself into the air with a powerful beat of her wings. They had been such unique things in Terr. So unique, in fact, that she was lucky to have learned how to use them. But she had, and they had grown strong in specialized training for war. Extended to their fullest, the two-toned sails soon carried her easily over the ever changing landscape. Flight was a precious escape, and the sensation of wind all around was a gift. It quieted her mind, if only for a moment.
Where they landed was quite different from Terr's terrain. No rolling hills, no deep lake at the center. It resembled more the farthest outskirts, where few feared venture. Stories of sea monsters lurking in the salt water depths were present in ominous legend as much as in childhood lore. As a gladiator, she had often scoffed at the tales, taking dares from friends at a young age to wade into the ocean just to see how far she could go.
Her hooves scored the ground gently, small amounts of sand displaced as she landed at a walk so as not to damage her joints. Feathered appendages drew neatly to her slender sides and the dappled mare halted in step with Serenity. She remembered to smile, and cast her gaze over the tree with interest. Then officially welcomed, she dipped her head in response so as to represent taking on the hypothetical weight of loyalty she now wore for the Throat. Her head felt congested with thought, but none of her questions seemed capable of forming coherently enough to fall from her lips. It was all she could do to commit the names of her new leaders to memory. It was not a notion she was fond of, no matter how strong or kind either was. Her last king had nearly drowned her, what reason had she to expect any different from them? Sigunn was not the sort to so quickly jump to conclusions, but still their authority was already unsettling. Power meant someone willing risking it all to save their seat on the throne, to sacrifice anything for whatever purpose they saw fit. Power meant corruption, meant insanity, meant danger. "Thank you, Serenity." It was all she could think to say, so she said it with all the sincerity she could squeeze from her senseless heart. The woman had welcomed her into her herd with little more than an exchange of names, and all with a certain friendliness that eliminated the possibility of malevolent intent.
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@[Serenity]
