"And now I wish to God that The earth would turn cold
And my heart would forget it's made of glass"

The heat was getting on her nerves. There were no words to accurately portray how much she missed the cool winds of the north, the snow and the glittering frost in the grass, lit by moon and stars. If things had been like before she would have stayed glued to the cool, damp cavern up in the Basin, content to play with Haldir and Vlasi and take lessons from her parents in everything that was of importance.

But things would never be like they had been. Her mother was dead, her father had moved them south to the dense forests of the Edge, and even though she liked Tembovu and the forests of her Lady, there was no replacing the soothing presence of her mother. More and more often the girl found herself braving the heat of the south to stalk the shimmering Halcyon flats, hating every moment of burning sun and searing heat but ultimately unable to tear herself away from the place where her most beloved person had met their end.

In desperation after several days of enduring the heat, she had thrown herself into the sea to try and cool off. That had been a mistake, of course. Small as she were, feathered and lithe and not particularly strong, she had been swept off by the currents like a cork. Held afloat by the spread out wings she was carried far out to sea, terrified of drowning, of being eaten by the sea monsters that she was sure had to lurk beneath the surface. She had been relieved to be washed up on a rocky coast, but the filly had been sure that it was only the beginning of her problems...

Until she rounded an outcropping and her eyes fell upon a gathering of horses that was all too familiar to her by now.

"Not again!" she whispered quietly to herself, despair coloring her tired young voice. She was tired of fighting, tired of gods and tired of huge monsters stealing things from her. Squeezing the ivory bow into a firmer grip against her side Erthë watched the filling crowd with baleful eyes, resentment towards the whole situation filling her until she felt as though she would burst.

Why was she always dragged into these mad situations? Why was it that she couldn't manage to stay clear of trouble? Who would have to pay for her involvement this time? Maren? Tembovu? Her father? Wasn't the Blackbird enough of a sacrifice already?

And yet.

Now she was wrapped up in it all again, as surely as if she had signed up for it. Would she be able to stand aside and just watch everything that would take place from now on, and do nothing? If she remained passive, would the prize be higher still?

It was a difficult question, and the struggle filled her thoughts as she hovered away from the gathering, eyes fixed upon the giant, god-like stallion that surely had to be the fourth and final of Helovia's protectors.

What promises and assurances would he make, before madness ensued? Would he too make himself guilty of ignorant mistakes, and cause mayhem and destruction?

It remained to be seen.

"And all the pretty tulips would disappear
And never disturb me again"