My plans were not going so well recently. In fact, I felt like I was slowly drifting towards that terrifying drop that would land me knee deep in shit. Still, I kind of liked the notion of being in trouble, all my life I’ve walked- no sauntered around, carefully tiptoeing between relationships but never leaving a mark. Despite my position, I’ve somehow managed to keep my mystery intact, many knew my name, but that was all they knew about me. I was the young, impressionable and naïve Czarina not worth a second glance. Good. I hope they keep averting their eyes and grant me an unchallenged stage. Still, our spying needed practise and as I travel to the Threshold, my gaze often glances northwards to the land that pillaged our trinkets. They were growing painful but I do not have a confident answer to them, part of me wants to go find out why, but travelling to the Basin alone was folly and quite unwise. I doubt Midas would accompany me. Sighing, I ponder my options as darkness falls and I enter the woodland of the Threshold.

Twigs snap and birds scatter as a kafuffle of paws bounds through the bushes causing my eyes to roll. Fantôme. I should have named him Elephant instead. I watch as he jogs at my side with his gaze darting this way and that. Watching shadows twitch and the undergrowth rustle. After that loud entrance, I doubt there is much prey in sight now. However, he did spot the chestnut stranger walking near them.

I turn to observe the equine with an analytical look. He was quite small and seemed around my own age, a blaze splashed onto his face along with a single white sock. My lips curl into a half smile, it was becoming quite rare to find such a simple lad around, and most she came across were all the colours of the rainbow and stashed gems. It made his humble form was almost weird.

Deciding to close in on my target, I move a little faster and try to turn in front of him in hopes of grabbing him at a halt. I pause and wait to see if he reacts before acknowledging him. "What brings you to Helovia?"

He came off as charming I could at least say that for now as he slowly appreciated the place he had come to and complimented me in a way I had never been described before. Suffice to say my expression didn’t move though it was more out of confusion as to how to receive it than anything else. Did I say thank you or… How should I know? Most of the time I was ignored or spoken to with an air off official like business, I didn’t know why this was. There weren’t many who spoke to me on such friendly levels as this one. He had quite quickly weaved his way onto her good side in one simple sentence, clever boy. "Ghost, Czarina of the Hidden Falls" I offer Vladimir in return, my voice light and curious as I answer his velvet dripped question. He had quite an exquisite name for such a jovial personality.

I listen carefully to his reasoning and I find I quite like his answer of darkness, instead of paradise and sunshine. Shadows were good friends, they linger without causing a scene and are always around if one should desire to hide. "It is prettier in the night" I observe the shrouded forest in concurrence with his answer. It was then that I found an opportune moment to capitalize on and I return my gaze to him with a new spark of curiousity. "My own land is far more beautiful than here, especially in the dark" I comment as if its offhand and a sudden thought. Carrying along with the relaxed conversation.

Fantôme peers around one of my front legs and I briefly drop my gaze to him, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. "This is Fantôme, though he is nothing like his name" I say with a long sigh like that of a tired mother. He ignores my despair as always and continues sniffing around the bushes near my feet. I return my gaze to Vladimir and away from the nuisance "want to see it, the Hidden Falls? I suppose we could make room for one more" I noted at the end.

@[Vladimir]

He lingers in silence for a while and I take the moment to trail his plain face that was refreshing to look at. The broad blaze that defiantly ran down the front and the warm chestnut that surrounded it as blazoned mane framed his proud neck. I wonder what walks of life he has come from, the memories that had shaped his inviting face and calm words. He looked like someone who should be enjoying the rays of light with a hint of joyful laughter and yet he is a lover of darkness. When he finally does part words from his lips he concurs that the land of cascades was one that did sound more inviting. I wonder if he trusted everyone with such flare, but then again, would I not be the same in a strange land? The only horse you can trust is the one who is in front of you, the one who knows more about the slab of earth you are on and ultimately your life was in their hands for a moment. It was then that I found a little more admiration for those who ventured so sincerely through the woodland with no clue of where they were. I wasn’t sure if I could do such a thing and trust a stranger’s word.

I ruffle my wings and make an air of haste around me as if I was preparing to leave. Which I was, nudging the wolf pup so he stood ready and not districted by whatever was so interesting in the bushes by my feet. "Allow me to show you then, though I fear the night will have turned to day by the time we arrive" I said with a forlorn and regretful sigh. Ah well, if he lingered as a herd mate he would see many nights fall over the green land of the Earth Lord.

My cloven hooves begin to move forwards and I usher my head northwards, towards the towering mountains would be when they emerged from the forest. "It’s the closest land to here, but still a fair distance on foot" I say, masking the weariness from my voice as I faced another trek back without the use of my trusty wings. I didn’t see many pegasi in the claiming territory these days.

------
[I’ll make you a thread in the HF soon :3 Feel free to request a rank change and pick a tier IV rank. Also, I wasn't sure if Ghost could see Ed or not, if so, let me know and I'll edit my post! :D]

@[Vladimir]