LOCATION: DRAGON'S THROAT, north edge right before land-bridge
PREVIOUS THREAD: murder in helovia conclusion

In the heat of early Tallsun as it touched Dragon’s Throat, Mesec wasn’t sure he could stand out any more than he currently did. He was a child made for and born in darkness, every hair on his body dark or silver and touched by moonlight. There was the simple worry that he would not be able to withstand the heat, his black coat was already absorbing heat in the early dawn as the sun began to rise over the ocean - streaking the sky with reds and oranges.

Yes, he was still uncertain about this idea, but uncertainty never really left him did it? All he knew was that he did not want to be separate any longer, wanted to see if he could belong somewhere even if only for a little bit of time. He wanted a family again. The Foothills had changed and those he cared for in that herd were scattered, the Basin held too many memories, not to mention potentially a father, and the Edge was Her domain.

Besides, what could be a better way to sever himself from darkness than by going to a land of light?

Little did he know just how many of his friends and acquaintances lived here.

His eagerness brought the young stallion as far as the beginning of the land bridge that connected the Throat to the rest of Helovia, but there he stopped. How far into the herd would he have to go to be considered a trespasser? It was important for Mesec to make a good first impression, especially after the recent events. Wasn’t this where that large bay pegasus had been from, the one his mother had possessed? If it all worked out he’d see himself a member of this herd, a way of paying some sort of penance for what she had done.

It in no way would help, there was no bringing back what had been taken, but Mesec felt the need to do something.

Shifting nervously where he stood, it was decided that he’d linger and see if anyone passed by that might be able to give him a hand. Being an active member of the Foothills had seemed the natural step after being adopted into that herd but he had never done this, had never actively sought out another home, and the fear of acting out of place kept him rooted and silent.

Mesec's thinking about joining come say hi! :D

Mesec remembered the golden stallion that approached him, remembered his voice as one of those that had cried out in anger and in grief at the site of Hototo’s burial and where they had found out what had been behind the murders. He could not recall a name, if it had even been spoken, but it did not matter for the pegasus introduced himself soon enough. Cera. The name was unfamiliar but then, Mesec had not gotten to know his cousin as well as he had wanted to. Now he would simply never get the chance except posthumously through other friends. Dark thoughts for the dark son, though luckily they were interrupted when another came to join them.

The red hybrid was taller than them both and greeting Cera as a friend but had not yet added any words into the conversation. Mesec could not help but feel intimidated by this silent giant though he focused his attentions on Cera and the question that had been asked which was still waiting for an answer.

There had been some intention to try to be as friendly as possible, but the immediate reminder of what had happened had thrown Mesec from that plan and instead his usual, shy manners took over. No smile, no aggressiveness, just quite uncertainty. “I seek a home here, if it’s possible.” It seemed like such a silly thing to say but at least it was the truth. And then before broadening his attention to them both he added more quietly, and with sincerity: “I’m so sorry… about Hototo. I only knew him a little but the... the world is darker now for the loss.” He didn’t know what relation this golden pegasus had to the earth’s son but there had been no denying how intense the grief had been on that day. Mesec’s throat closed up on him before he could saw more and he wondered if he would still be accepted here if they knew his association with the Moon. That was why he was here, after all.

But he feared being turned away and being a wanderer forever, without home or purpose or family. He did not enjoy being deceitful and resolved to share more… just at a later time. At a first meeting, spilling all of one’s history and family connections hardly seemed necessary or appropriate. A name, however, certainly was called for. Silver, pupilless eyes flickered between both of the others and he added “My name’s Mesec.”

As it had back on the beach, Mesec’s heart leapt at the sound of Ampere calling his name - at the sight of her landing near by and coming toward him. There was no shortage of relief, he remembered that she had lived here once upon a time but had been worried that she would not be here now. That worry evaporated, thankfully leaving him with only a hundred others. He stepped into the hug that she pulled him into, his heart steadying with the rush of her scent and he closed his eyes to lose himself in that quick embrace before it ended and he was reminded that they weren’t alone.

Cera explained Mesec’s purpose before quickly taking his leave and Mesec’s silver gaze could not help but follow the golden stallion, hoping that he would get the chance to speak together again. He couldn’t take back what his mother had done but maybe he could help make amends for it, and Cera seemed like a good place to start. He did not know the winged stallion, did not know what connection he had to Hototo, but the grief did not seem to have faded since the site of the murder - not that he would have expected it to.

The red hybrid also sought to take his leave, asking Ampere if there was anything else. “Thank you for welcoming me.” Mesec offered, wanting to express his gratitude before he left as well. Surely they would get a chance to talk, to actually talk, at a later date. But now, now his attention turned to Ampere and he smiled at her through his nerves. “Not visit, like Cera said I… I want to join.” He had no idea what he could offer the Throat, if he had any skill sets that they would find appealing, but her welcome gave him hope that he could find a new home in the light. The metaphorical and the physical need to escape as much darkness as possible had been part of what they talked about when she had first spoken to him about a group - and now he was here, in the Throat. The place he thought where he could stand in as much light as possible. “If you’ll have me, gladiator.” He grinned wider at the word that had been used by Cera. Was it a rank? It suited her, whatever it was.

The pair of stallions took their leave and Mesec was left with Ampere, grinning as she affirmed that she would not turn him away and playfully bumped his shoulder. This felt good, didn’t it? He was glad he had come here, glad he had thought the Throat would be the best place to go. “Lead the way.” He could not have asked for a better tour guide.

But as he fell into step beside Ampere, the thrill of being accepted soon faded into those old worries again and there was one that Mesec couldn’t shake, one that he just had to ask and clear up. He had thought to seek out the other stallion but perhaps Ampere could offer some insight - perhaps she knew him. Silver eyes drifted from the scenery to the hard ground by his hooves, watching the hard sand and rock pass beneath them before he figured out what to say. “Do… do you think Gaucho will mind me being here? You know, after…” Well, was there any need to explain what had happened? He could think about it - it was hard to stop thinking about it - but he had yet to actually talk about any of it, that wasn’t how Mesec handled things. Sharing his condolences with Cera had been the closest he had gotten.

Ampere had been there, she knew what his mother had done. He thought she would understand - she always seemed to just get what he meant, what he needed, without having him to explain it in words. Which worked out pretty well because words, well, they didn’t always work out very well for the demigod. His tongue always felt too heavy in his mouth, never quite finding the right way to explain what was going on in that mind.

The last time they had spoke, he had mentioned a need to get away from the darkness - but at that time there was no way for him to expect that he would feel the need to go quite so literal.

With his eyes trained on the ground, he didn’t miss the sparks as they started up in time with her reaction to his question. Mesec quickly reached out to touch his muzzle to her neck, the contact brief but the intention was comforting. He hadn’t meant to get her riled up with his question, wasn’t even entirely sure he knew the cause of her frustration, but the sparks soon died away and he was not going to pry into the matter. He appreciated her strength, the force in which she had replied to his uncertainty, and it actually soothed him.

So long as Ampere was in his corner, Mesec would always have hope.

With her passionate words, she made sense - it wasn’t fair to condemn him when he had no part to play in what had happened. But couldn’t he have stopped it? He might have been in the best position of all of them to reason with his mother, to guess at her plans. All that time he had spent with her and he had no more idea of what was coming than the rest of them. “I hope you’re right.” Both about Gaucho and about him not being like his mother. It was constant, the fear that she would get him in the end - that genetics would overpower what bit of his personality that had not been shaped by his early family and he’d be left with nothing but shadow. But, he had ruined their conversation with his dark contagion yet again and he was eager to back peddle.

The sun was hot on his back and warmed his face, teasing a grin out of him once more as he forced himself to relax - smoothing his wings against his back much in the same way she had. Straightening up now, he looked over at his friend with a smile - surely they could manage one afternoon of sunshine? “Show me your favourite spot?”

le fin <33