Winter may not be the pegasus’ favourite season, but she adored it just the same. This one had been colder than the last that she had seen in Helovia – even in the Edge, which was usually very temperate, there was an extra chill in the air. And a little extra snow on the ground. Snow, as it turned out, fascinated her little owl friend to no end. He loved to burrow into it, flapping his wings and making little Hemlock-shapes in the fuzzy white crystals. He was in such a good mood during the winter, especially for someone who was generally quite the grump.

Today, today he was looking for something. A gift for his bonded. Something for them to do – something to cheer her up. She had been brooding over her conversation with the Moon Goddess, worried about what she was going to have to do. It had seemed so important, that power, but was she going to be able to do what was asked of her? Hurt someone, deny someone healing. It twisted her stomach just to think of it.

So the little flammulated owl wanted to cheer her up. And after a little while, on this warm, late-winter day, he found something. “Found fwiend.” His deep voice spoke firmly into her mind before it was followed by a chorus of hoots. Oh dear! All she could think of was him harassing some innocent horse – likely the first one he found without a dragon. Fearful of how rude he was being she hurried towards his location. “Hemlock!” She shouted before she saw the slumbering mare and the guilt kicked in instantly. “Oh! Oh goodness I am so sorry.” She followed up in a much quieter voice, lingering where she was in the tree-line so she might retreat as quickly as she came. Not that she particularly wanted to retreat, of course – because the mare that she had stumbled across (or, really, who Hemlock had stumbled across) was a fascinating one. The marvels of Helovia would never cease to amaze her. She had once had vines growing amongst her mane and tail and little flowers growing in the feathers on her wings. But never had she once seen a tree growing out of – or on? – the back of someone before. A fig tree too!

Well, her curiosity could wait until the mare had caught up on her sleep certainly so she focused instead on getting Hemlock away as quietly and quickly as possible. Hoping that he hadn’t disturbed this stranger already. “Get over here, you little rascal.” She continued in her quiet voice – glaring half-heartedly at the little owl who hooted happily as he circled the sleeping mare (or once sleeping, at least, if their arrival had put an end to that).


hope you don't mind <3