Elsa,

Feel lucky for what you have, when you have it. Happily ever after doesn’t mean happy forever.

There are things that have happened, and things she will never remember. The last few weeks have drug by, and shedding the memories was taking a lot more time than she had anticipated. It didn't matter how much she screamed and cried, because in the end nothing would change. There wasn't a body to back her up, and taking on the world alone was an impossible task. So Elsa had to make peace with herself, and move on and away. The best thing for her to do right now was to avoid all of them. The less she had to see, the better her attitude would slowly become. Although she knew, and anticipated, the fact that those scabs would never completely heal, or even scar over. There would always be one who peeled it back, making the wound cry all over again.

So one by one, she began visiting the lands she knew she could never escape. For the first time since it had all occurred, she floated to the edge of the Falls. Each step closer to it felt like a searing hot pain had been released onto her heart, but it needed to become callous. There was the faint noise of meandering beings, and no one seemed to be living in the past. Her isolated spot in the past was quickly becoming deserted. Families moved on, yet she didn’t have hers. Lovers reunited, and hers disappeared as quickly as she got him back. It was like she had a force field wrapped around her, and every living thing with a heart was sent flying away. The only ones who could gain entry were the ones she despised the most.

The overbearing scent of strangers tainted the thick brewing scent of plants. It no longer was the same home, and in a way, it even looked different. And so, Elsa turned away. Even if she wanted to go to the Falls, she could not. Too many knew her, even if just by face. Wherever she went, there would always be someone to run her out. The only place that would provide respite would be the Threshold. No one there would know her, and she could just as easily run from any familiar scents. At least there, hope lingered.

It was soon after that the trees began to grow taller and taller. Soon enough, they were towering and shrouding her in the shadows. She inhaled, and this… this was the closest thing to home. The sun filtered through the branches, splaying fractals of glowing amber light across the undergrowth. The luster of her body would usually gleam here, but with the lack of sleep and food, she seemed to be nothing more than a walking body. The only spark that lingered was embedded deep in her little blue eye. This was home.

Though the shuffling of feet broke into her musings. Her ears immediately stood on edge. Edgar, who had been curled up in her forelock, groggily opened his eyes. The poor bird was taking this even worse than Elsa was, and she felt horrible for that. He gently prodded her mind, cooing gently and reminding her that he was always going to be there. Everyone else could leave, but he would never abandon her. Following in the shadows towards the sound, it was obvious there was a newcomer. Elsa watched as she paused for a moment, and then lowered her face to eat. A twinge of pain lurched in her stomach. It had been so long since she had a normal conversation, much less a nice one.

Tentatively she stepped towards the striped female. Elsa cleared her throat, offering an awkward, but genuine smile. The muscle in her face groaned, they had not been put into use for quite a while. "Hello," she said quietly. All the other etiquette she had trained herself to use had flown out the window, and so that was all she said. Maybe, just maybe, she would stick around long enough to keep her company.


"talk"

Elsa,

Feel lucky for what you have, when you have it. Happily ever after doesn’t mean happy forever.

The dusty mare turned, actually acknowledging Elsa’s presence. The white queen stood there shocked for a moment, nothing but silence coming in response. Edgar perked up then, relishing the fact that they had attention that wasn’t negative. With a swift little chiding chirp, he took his beak and slammed it between Elsa’s eyes. She was being stupid, and needed to talk. Her body jerked in reaction, and so he settled down between her ears, content to be quiet for a few moments. “My name is Elsa,” she finally says, her voice still holding a twang of shock. Edgar, again displeased, pecked at her ears, biting one of them gently just to remind her that he was here to. “This is Edgar, a zephyr and my companion,” she explains, looking up to the bird she couldn’t see. He was an unimpressive little thing, small, fluffy, and ghostly white. The only color that popped out of him was the same glassy blue eyes that his bonded had.

And through all that, Zora remained relaxed. A calm, whooshing sound of decompressing air dribbled out of Elsa; all the strains, pains, and horrors of the past few weeks seeming to float away for a bit. Her own body relaxed then, following suit with Zora’s unknowingly. Her shoulders shifted forward and down a bit, and the neck lowered. It felt so foreign to stand like this, and she realized how much she missed it. “It is a pleasure to meet you Zora-“ She paused for a moment, realizing the words she was about to speak were the words of her anger. Elsa wanted to scream at her to run the opposite way, and to never come here. She still has a chance at escape; the vines of Helovia hadn’t consumed her. Yet, Elsa wanted Zora to do well, and to thrive. Maybe she could mend all the broken pieces of Helovia. “You’re in Helovia, probably a very different land from where you came from. Magics and companions await you upon entry.” Edgar perked up, puffing out his chest and strutting forward on Elsa’s face, only then to push off her tender muzzle and land on the ground in front of Zora. He looks up with his beady little eyes, and begins to squawk with happiness. Elsa can only watch in horror and beg him through their bond to stop, but that only entices him to do more. He tries to weave in and out of Zora’s legs, and then comes to a halt in front of her. Edgar then proceeds to jump up and down while flapping his wings like a child. Essentially, he wanted to be picked up by her. All she had to do was lower her mane so he could pull himself up and sit comfortably on Zora’s head for a while.

If Elsa’s coat could’ve, she would be millions of shades of red. Shame colored her voice as she frantically began looking for a way satiate Zora’s probable anger at his little display. “Please don’t hurt him, he only wants to be held. That little booger thinks everyone loves him, his childlike naiveness I suppose.” Elsa shot a pointed glance at her companion who only continued to relish about in this emotion. Shame and embarrassment was much easier to handle than sorrow. “If you actually want him up there, you can just lower your neck a bit, he likes to climb on by mane,” Elsa shrugged then, figuring if he was going to continue, she needed to give Zora some basic Zephyr care instructions. “So where do you come from miss Zora? Wander here on accident, or searching for something?” Elsa’s eyes returned to the striped and dappled mare. Stories were always intriguing, and hers would be much better than Elsa’s. Her ears tipped forward, eagerly awaiting what she had to say. Even if it was a simple response, a response was better than nothing.

"talk"
@[Zora] Sorry for the quick replies! Having an ankle problem gives me way too much writing time. So don't feel like you have to respond quickly. :3

Elsa,

Feel lucky for what you have, when you have it. Happily ever after doesn’t mean happy forever.

Zora was used to the oddities? Well that was a start. More often than not everyone wandered in here doe-eyed and scared to wits end when they see one of the following things; horns, wings, magic, and companions. Any one or combination of the aforementioned things usually sent any timid soul into a frenzy of shock. That made it a little easier when Edgar decided to jump down and give his show. Zora's attention gave Edgar the biggest rush he had encountered in a long time. When her mane hit the ground, he looked at her expectantly. Then, he moved forward to climb his way up her mane should she let him. It saddened him to know that he could no longer live within a group. His memories fade back to Bellisma and the surplus of friends he had made along the way. When he was in the Falls, he was able to wander wherever he went. Now, any friendship seemed fleeting.

However, Elsa was much too moved by Zora's stories to care for her bonded's emotions. Although brief, Elsa sympathized with her. No matter how much she loved the lands she had previously lived in, the next group to come it just drove her out. It was sad that the social degradation outweighed the perks of staying in her home. "I understand," she whispered quietly. Her eyes got that glassy, faraway look for a moment. She could hear the sounds of the Falls like it was yesterday. Oftentimes she had roamed around in the water for the heck of it, and now, the lack of it made her feel sickly and dry. "Me and Edgar don't quite have a home," she murmured quietly. Edgar peeped sadly, but they were getting along just fine. "It's been a complicated few weeks." A forced smile crossed her face, but at least she could smile. Swallowing her pride, she prepared to speak again. If Zora loved the Falls, then there was no reason she should wander alone just because Elsa chose to. "If you love waterfalls, there is a herd just North of here I could take you to. It has plenty of them. Or, I could show you to the Dragons Throat or Worlds Edge. The Throat more of a desert, and the Edge like a mountain peninsula type thing." What the world Edge was specifically, Elsa didn't know. It was just its own little plateau, rising above everything else. "I could escort you to any of them, but I cannot stay long. I can get you to someone who can help you though." Shrugging, Elsa finished her little herd offers. Seeing as no one else showed up, and Elsa was a free agent, she decided she should just become the friendly neighborhood realtor. "Or if you want, you can choose to live the life as an outcast, like me." That of course, was the worst of the offers. Recluses seemed to be the only ones who wanted to live along. Well, recluses and those who were kicked out.

"talk"
@[Zora]