It was a long trip from the eastern extreme of Helovia to the far western shores where the Edge sat nestled on the high cliffs above the sea.  Iona didn’t mind the walk, though.  That, in itself, was saying a lot for the winged woman was hardly ever caught on the ground.  She much preferred the skies.  It had been that way since birth – Iona had always been drawn to the clouds and learned to be a much more adept flier than her sister, who in turn learned all the secrets the earth had to offer.  The forests of the threshold gave way to the wide meadows that spanned the interiror of Helovia, and Iona pulled her wings tightly against her sides before stepping into an easy canter.
 
She kept one ear flicked back towards Lithium, so as to catch any questions the young stallion may have on the journey, but for the most part the painted mare kept her thoughts to herself.  She thought she’d let him enjoy the journey across the interior of Helovia.
 
All the while, Iona kept her eyes on the shadows – a habit cultivated after years spent as a warrior in her own right.  One ambush was all it took to learn to keep her guard up at all times, even when they grew closer to the Edge and the promise of safety.  “It’s not far,” she called, as the trees again loomed before them.  As they broke the line of trees, Iona slowed to a trot and eventually a walk.  She knew that deathtrap of a glass wall was coming up, and she figured that it wouldn’t be the kindest welcoming to spear new recruits on the front door.
 
When the jagged wall loomed before them, she again looked back to Lithium.  ”Watch for glass shards. It’s all still sharp.”  The pegasus normally elected to skip the wall altogether, and the dangers associated with it, but she knew doing so today would be overtly rude so she was content to leap over the shattered bits and pieces without the aid of her wings.
 
Once clear, she stepped into the misty lands of the Edge.  Home.  She turned back to the young stallion in hopes of gauging his reaction to the place.  “Welcome to the World’s Edge,” she announced, with something akin to pride in her voice. “But don’t head too far west…the mists can hide the actual edge,” she added, with a smirk.

Iona could feel the wariness in her bones.  Being unaccustomed to being earthbound for so long, such a trip took its toll on the mare.  However the burn in the lesser-used muscles was welcomed.  Though Iona was a warrior no more, she did her best to keep herself fighiting-fit.  Just in case. 
“It is quite something,” she offered, glancing back to the silver stallion and beckoning him forward with a wing.
 
She could only imagine how tired Lithium must be – having just arrived in Helovia and then treked clear across the place.  However,  Iona knew that they wouldn’t have to wait long for the Edge’s welcome wagon to arrive.  It seemed like activity around the Edge was always stirring, despite the hour.  It was refreshing to see, not just promising for the future of the Edge, but it was quite a change from the empty ruins and overgrown streets from which she had come.  Iona had come from a land that was dying – slowly being drained of the magic that served as its lifeblood.  The Edge was the exact contast – growing, stirring, and glimmering with promise of something more on the horizion.  Iona did miss her magic, though.  It was something Aly had warned her about – that was the price of a fresh start.  Her mastery over the wind was gone, her enhanced speed had returned to the bounds of normal, and her wounds no longer healed themselves almost instantly.  Again, a necessary adjustment.  And again, the reverie made her wonder what kind of place Lithium had come from.  Had he paid such a price to come here, or was this the land of opportunity that offered such wonders for the first time?
 
It was Tembovu’s arrival that truly brought her back to the present. “Iona, one of the spies,” the painted mare said, with a polite dip of her head to the horned stallion whom she had seen but never formally met.  “This is Lithium, who has decided to join us. He’s hoping to become a warrior.”  Look who has manners after all!  However, at Tembovu’s mention of the wounds on Lithium’s legs, undoubtedly from the glass, Iona was somewhat abashed.  “I could certainly find my sister or one of the other healers if you need those cleaned up,”  she offered, belatedly. Iona made a note that Tembovu was one of the Glaziers.  Maybe he could do something about that health hazard of a wall…
 
“That doesn’t seem like a bad idea, Tembovu.  The cliff is one of my favorite places,”  there is something akin to excitement in her voice.  That and mischief. “Always good to know where the edge of the world is so you don’t go tumbling off the side,” she adds, casual as ever, with a smirk. 

“Smart man,” Iona offers, with a wry smile, though it certainly wouldn’t take any great powers of deduction when you saw the two sisters together.  Same height, approximately the same build – though Iona kept her frame more streamlined due to hours spent in the skies, same eyes, the only difference was in the patterns of their coats.  And just about everything in terms of personality.  Where Alysanne was compassionate; Iona was brash.  Alysanne was water; Iona was fire.  Alysanne was earth; Iona was sky.  Two halves to one whole. It made sense, all things considered.
 
“Aly’s my twin,” she answered, meeting the great stallion’s gaze directly. “Though she’s lived here for years.  I’ve only recently joined her here.  Retired from fighting and, well, here I am. The whole good versus evil thing was getting old.” she replied, with a dry laugh.  Her gaze again flicked between the two stallions – the silver and the mammoth.  It was obvious to most that looked at Iona she had done some sort of fighting in the past, but Iona had decided to pursue a new life when she came to join her sister here in Helovia.  Fighting for the resistance had taken its toll on the painted mare, though she’d take up arms in a heartbeat to defend her family (and her herd) if called upon.  She just didn’t want to make a life of it this time around.
 
This was her second chance, after all.
 
Her attention quickly flicked back to Lithium.  She watches the interaction between the two stallions with a guarded sense of interest before finally seizing the opportunity to jump in.  She could feel something brewing, and if Iona was anything – she was a control freak. “There are times when the cliffs are shrouded in a wicked mist, so its always good to know the boundaries and the landmarks on a clear day like today,” she says as she falls in step beside Tembovu, lengthening her own stride to match his own.
 
She’s interested to hear Lithium’s answer to Tembovu’s question, so she again lets herself fall quiet as she walks – her ears flicking towards the silver to pick up his answer.
 
As she picks out the Edge of the cliff growing on the horizon, she speaks again – this time her voice lighter, teasing. “Okay, no pushing, boys.  I’m not going over after you,” she says, with another small smile and a flicker in her bright green eyes, though they linger on the newcomer so as not to miss his reaction to the sea cliffs.