"Where brilliance is good and madness is better..."
Helovia Info
Helovia opened in February 2012! We are an active fantasy equine RPG
Where once the world narrowed into naught but gray dust and desolation, the gods called for life. Wielding the elements of fire and light, dark and wind, earth and water, spark and time, they have created Helovia. The realm is set within the mythical globe of Loorien, a planet rich with all variety of creatures and blessed with all manner of magic. Originally populated by nomadic, tribal characters, they've since grown into massive empires saturated with culture and history. Separated into four distinct segments of Helovia, called "The Regions," each band of horse strong enough and capable enough, took up the power and responsibility of leadership. Unicorns, old, wise and mysterious, took to the north, hidden in forests of mists and shadows and rarely making themselves known beyond their cliffs of the World's Edge. Equines, vast, organized and militaristic, split into two, one group went north to the Windtossed Foothills and the other group went south to the Dragon's Throat. Pegasus remained nomadic, making their homes in various parts of The Wilds in a migratory manner. For many generations, the land was peaceful and calm, but peace was never the way of the gods. With a clash of argument, war and bloodshed massacred Helovia, and in the aftermath, the realm was eerily quiet. Now, as newcomers sweep into this land, they are met with the lingering bitterness of the gods and the struggle to reclaim what was lost. Nothing remains safe or certain while sorcerers and soldiers alike brood and bide their time for revenge, honor and glory.
Site Wide Plots
Kaos :: The Beginning of the End ☼ - 6/2017 - Kaos placed Helovia in a time-bubble for a short period of time, but the Helovian gods are fighting back. But Kaos is powerful- far more powerful than anyone thought. This may be the beginning of the end of Helovia as we know it.
Kisamoa :: A New Kind of Kaos ☼ - 3/2017 - Kisamoa asks Helovians to help him restore the Spectral Marsh. Which side will you choose?
Invasions :: All Out War ☼ - 5/2/16 - New layout and the brand new invasion rules are up! Thank you for your patience and we look forward to getting started with this new adventure.
The Rift :: Gods Do Die ☼ - 8/2015 - Helovia Gods are saving the Rift from corrupt gods! Can Helovians band together against these foreign deities?
The Literal Ship ☼ - 2/8/15 - Oh no! You have to pair up for Valentine's day!
Sky Island :: Murder ☼ - 10/25/14 - Vesta has been found dead on the island, and the gods have called to you to solve the murder!
Sky Island :: Peace ☼ - 7/7/14 - An island has appeared in the sky! Clouds carry Helovians from the Veins to the sky.
Restoration :: We Welcome the Dawn ☼ - 9/21/13 - The sun has finally risen on this day, giving the land new light, but the Time God and the Sun God have yet to be seen.
Endless Night :: Broken Magic Plot ☼ - 8/30/13 - The earth god has returned and is walking across Helovia to heal the land. Every area can now be considered lush and prosperous, but the sun has still not risen.
☼ - 7/19/13 - The moon has risen in the sky, heralding the return of the Goddess of the moon. Lamp trees which light the paths have grown brighter, moon flowers which grow in dark places have begun to grow and prosper and the world is brighter, filled with a new hope.
Endless Night :: Dead Magic Plot ☼ - 6/22/13 - The gods of Helovia, in order to protect the world, have disappeared into the rift, leaving the world sunless, moonless and magic-less in their absence. Only the herdlands have a source of light, but lamp-trees with glowing leaves and branches sporadically line the popular roads and paths from place to place.
Doppleganger Plot ☼ - 6/20/13 - The God of Time is still struggling to close the rift though which the dopplegangers have come. He has requested that his brothers and sister assist in closing this hole, but without knowing why it opened, the task is proving difficult. Magic still remains faulty and hard to control, but the herdlands continue to be places of refuge for those who are fortunate enough to call these lands home.
ORANGEMOON cools off the lands with a a viscious force. Colder than normal, a sign of things to come during Frostfall, Helovia is bathed in a rich tropical lushness - albiet a cold one. The coastlines of the Dragon's Throat are pelted constantly by tidal waves, and the desert climate is humid but chilly. Ice begins to form early in the Aurora Basin leaving the winding trails slick and dangerous. The mists of the World's Edge coat everything in a glistening crystalline shine which encourages mould to grow everywhere. The Spectral Marsh is the only area which remains fertile, blissfully temperature and lush.
Cotm
Character of the Month for
June, 2017
WEAVER, Corporal of the Aurora Basin, is a relatively recent addition to Helovia and has taken it by storm. Branded with the seal of Death on her chest, intrigue and interest follow both her past and present. Though she is assuredly beautiful, her sometimes sharp personality reveals that there is more to this uni-peg hybrid than meets the eye. Proving herself able on the battlefield in the Basin’s warrior ranks, we can’t wait to see her test her mettle against the looming Kaos happenings! Congratulations!
Helovia RPG was created by Tamme and Blu and coded by Tamme also known as Schwartze. All coding, palettes and imagery are copyrighted to the website and are not for use outside of Helovia. Thank you to our ServerMaster for hosting Helovia. A special thanks goes to Neo for all of her coding help and fixing Tamme's errors, Boom, for her loyal service and creation of the Time God, and to Ali for her consistent contributions and dedication.
Feel lucky for what you have, when you have it. Happily ever after doesn’t mean happy forever.
The more she admits to death, the more she believes it. She had officially fallen into nothing more than a subconscious thought. Maybe someone remembers a white flash now and again- she was nothing more than a smear. Her intricate mark she believed she left was simply a smeared blurry representation, barely even visible amongst the other loud and bold colors.
And to think, she had thought this little excursion would resurrect her soul. Instead, she left it behind in the wasteland to be picked apart by vultures. Not that there was much left in the first place. She stopped drinking, and stopped eating. All the years and seasons of pining away at love and family finally faded. No longer did her daughters exist, no longer did Oxy. Their images she ripped from her mind, angrily slamming her head against a tree trunk, before falling to her knees in a fit of tears. Nothing fell, the dehydration simply reddened her eyes, looking in the small reflection pool a demon looked back. Eyes raw, body barely more than bones. Even her hair had been jaggedly cut down to a mohawk, Edgar had taken a rock and did as she bade him. Both her mane and tail were cut short.
By this point, even he had given up on her. The one who tried his hardest to stay on lingered in the back of her mind. Their emotional bond seemed to have faded, even though in reality it hadn’t died down at all. Instead they both grew numb to their hate. He did not care for her angry cries, and the danger she put herself in during her fits of rage. The left side of her face was bruised to the point it looked bruised, her eye scar sticking out like a sore thumb. It was rubbed raw and pink, blood pooling just below the surface. It was a nice bright red dot in a sea of blue.
And with one more hit it was gone. No Shida, no Auriel, no Oxy. They ran from her, and now she was cutting the ties. It felt like a weight was torn from her, but left a raging gash of pain that sank into her bones, permeating throughout her body. When she had no more heart to give, her body had resorted to flesh. Her nose seemed to bleed lightly from the head trauma. A russet line looked as if it was permanently welded into her skin ran from both of her nostrils down to her muzzle.
She stumbled onward, heading back to Helovia, as if that would help. Mauja would not take her back. She left without notice, and was returning a walking, soulless demon. Who wants to house that? Edgar fell behind her, barely keeping within distance of her. He could only sit so far away before the innate bond pulled him closer against his will. A snarl crawled up the side of her face as she screamed out in his direction. It echoed across the woods, eerily fading off into the silence.
Elsa didn’t even notice when she went through the threshold. It looked so unfamiliar now. It all felt so different. She was not a part of this life anymore. Trudging on, she approached the large, somewhat familiar land. It smelled like an ancient experience, but looked unfamiliar in the blazing heat. Sweat poured from her body, and Edgar landed on the remnants of glass wall and screeched like the devil unleashed. He knew she wanted to remain forgotten, to simply float, remember and disappear. "Fuck you," she said icily, lashing her teeth out toward his still form.
"And now I wish to God that The earth would turn cold And my heart would forget it's made of glass"
It was much too hot to do anything. Not that she could have even if she wanted to; her leg was throbbing horribly, a dull, persistent ache that turned into crystal sharp stabs of pain whenever she tried to place weight on it. It had been doing this ever since the Tiger Goddess had broken it, and though several healers had tried to mend the bones, nothing they did ever really helped for long.
It was incredibly frustrating. Erthë was used to roaming, to come and go wherever and whenever she pleased. To be confined to this dark, misty forest was, however much she loved the place, boring as heck.
Moody and irritable because of the constant pain, she had hobbled as far away from people as she could come, followed the crumbling glass wall until she found a suitably large tree to hide beneath, and passed the time recalling everything uncle Badger had told her about herbs. She was sure he had mentioned something about painkillers, some that were good and some that weren't as nice and some that were dangerous if handled wrongly but very potent indeed... As the days went by and the ache didn't fade, the filly was growing more and more tempted to try and find some of them, just to escape from the horrible sensations for just a little while.
Her thought process was interrupted by a terribly noisy bird not far from where she was hiding, and when its loud scream was accompanied by a voice that cursed, her interest was immediately roused. Limping awkwardly with the left leg held up from the ground, Erthë poked her head out from the curtain of leafy vines and peered around, as intrigued as she was scandalized.
"That was a rude thing to say!" she said, upon spotting a scrawny, dirty looking vagrant of a mare near the wall. "Who are you? You can't come in unless you say what you want, daddy said so."
The soft, pink nose wrinkled with poorly veiled distaste as she scrutinized the mare. It was hard to make out what color she might be beneath all the dirt, though Erthë thought she might be some pale color. At any rate she had wings, but no horns - pegasus then - and wherever she had been it was clear it hadn't been stocked with a whole lot of food. No water either, if the smell was anything to go by.
"And all the pretty tulips would disappear And never disturb me again"
An irritable bird’s cry drew the attention of the elephant. He plodded towards the noise, wondering what could make such a racket. It cut through the bugs of Tallsun with ease. Though he enjoyed the warmth of the long days, he generally stayed in the cooler parts of the Edge during the hotter parts of the day. Though the bird drew him into the open, to the very edge of the Edge.
Though his sweeping strides stop abruptly in shock. There, before him, was a gaunt excuse of a pegasus. What even was its gender? He couldn’t tell— though there was something vaguely familiar about the being. He racked his brain, but could find nothing to match the filthy, starved, bleeding form before him.
His hears perk and nostrils flare at the scent of blood, filth, and hunger. The face is painted with anger— and something darker. Is there hatred in those deep, blue eyes? The swollen, angry scar jogs a memory… He had met this being once before. Her body was gaunt now, her mane and tail jagged and shortened. Her face bruised, her nose bloody. But her blue eyes were the same, staring angrily from their deep holes.
“…Elsa?” He thought that was her name… Though he had only met her for mere moments. Then, she had seemed upset and tinged with self-loathing. But now she was evidenced with an overwhelming amount of it. “What has happened to you?” Despite his faint acquaintance with the mare, concern was still thick in his deep voice.
A flash of white in his periphery caught his attention, and his gaze swung to see Erthe. He had been so stunned by the appearance of the winged equine that he had entirely missed his small filly. His ears flick towards her and her suspended forelimb. Distaste is written plainly on her pain-ridden face. It was not a look he had seen yet on the spritely girl— and surprise further raised his thick brow. “Erthe, have you had healers look at your legs since the Rift battle?” More concern thickened his rumbling voice. He had not seen his little friend since the Tigress Goddess has swiped her like a rag doll.
His worried blue gaze swept between the two injured creatures before him. His own broken rib and deep claw-marks on his side mere child splay in comparison.
There's a burning star to lead your father home, He'll travel from afar, no matter where you roam. Rest your angry heart, little one, don't you cry, Soon you'll see him come across the bending, bleeding sky.
@Elsa Hope you don't mind him joining! I know they've only met once or twice, but I think he'd recognize her ;)
Feel lucky for what you have, when you have it. Happily ever after doesn’t mean happy forever.
Being here again was like staring the very thing she hated straight in the eyes. It only grew worse when a strong-willed young girl came out from the woodwork. Her voice filled with faux strength as she demanded to know who Elsa was. The ice queens eyes slid slowly to the frosty child. If Elsa hadn’t been there for the birth of her forgotten twins, she might have thought this child to be her offspring. So very odd to have someone so drained of color wandering around. Refreshing, but this child was making her blood boil.
It was bittersweet staring into her eyes as she bit back a plethora of her answers. She wanted to scream at the girl, chastise her for not knowing a single thing about herd hierarchy. But who could blame her? Elsa had hardly been here since she was promoted to her position, and for all she knew, the kings had replaced her as soon as they noticed her absence.
“And who might your daddy be?” She answered dully. Though it would be interesting to know. Maybe Mauja had procreated with the yeti or something and produced this. What a story that would be. “And if you must know, my name is Elsa, the general here,” it was hard for her to hide the venomous sarcasm that pervaded her speech. It was also meant as a silent warning, because the last thing Elsa wanted to do was have to trample a small child in order to get into her home. Nor was it politically correct for her to injure a child. In reality though, it was jealousy that urged Elsa to react in such a cold manner. She was a child, bold enough to stand up for herself, a strong child. She was what Elsa wished her twins to be, and the sad part was, she was technically getting to know more about this child than her own twins.
Another voice leaked into their conversation, one that was familiar to Elsa. Upon turning at the sound of her name, Tembovu appeared in all his stripy glory. His question was one she expected; she was a walking pile of shit at the moment. Though why would he care? He barely knew her, she barely knew him. So Elsa fell silent, allowing him to address the child and her injuries. That was to be expected, Elsa can fend for herself, and the child needed more attention. “Worry for her, I merely was off in search of something that will be impossible to find.” Her words were cryptic but that was all she would say for the moment. No one in the Edge knew her pain, and to them, her twins had never existed at all.
"And now I wish to God that The earth would turn cold And my heart would forget it's made of glass"
Erthë raised a brow as she scrutinized the stranger, eyes roaming dubiously up and down the battered, mangy body. The woolly little ears twitched, inclining backwards at the less than friendly tone of voice - there was no need to sound so angry!
"Really? I've never seen you before" she retorted, disinclined to back off even though the mare was flaunting a really high rank. It was just... she really didn't look the part of a general. She didn't even look like someone who lived in a herd at all, not with all the dirt and the lack of attention to appearances. Erthë, as a contrast, was well groomed and squeaky clean, flawless in color and appearance - purely aside from the creepy looking white eye and the swollen, damaged leg.
"My dad's Vadim. Hey, can you prove that you're a General?"
That was when Tembovu appeared. With the expression brightening into a welcoming smile, the dove limped over to him, emerging fully from beneath the shelter of the tree to press her cold, icy body against his in greeting. His attention was mostly focused on the stranger, whom he addressed by name; Erthë relaxed a little upon hearing this. Oh. So maybe Elsa had been telling the truth after all. Oops. Way to make a first impression, girl. Yet for all that she knew that she ought to be polite to grown ups, it was hard to feel any form of respect towards someone who couldn't even keep themselves clean.
"Uh.. no, not yet" she replied, turning her gaze towards Tembovu as he addressed her. "I was waiting to see if it would get better on its own first. The healers did use magic on it right away, so I thought it'd be alright... I can go find someone soon if you want."
She eyed the bothersome limb and pursed her lips thoughtfully. Yes, maybe it would be better than to experiment on her own with herbs she barely knew anything about. Erthë wasn't used to bothering healers for things, but this might be a bit too serious to leave be, no matter what Mother had used to say about toughening up and learning to endure.
Right now however, she was more concerned with this peculiar trespasser. Tilting her head the doll ruffled her wings at Elsa's tone, indignation at the implication of having to be worried about sharpening her tongue more than what might be entirely appropriate.
"What were you looking for?" she asked, cheeky and with the slender tail whipping waspishly. "Can't have been a bath, at least."
"And all the pretty tulips would disappear And never disturb me again"
He catches the tail end of Erthe demanding Elsa probe she’s a General. His brows raise, for he had not know that Elsa held such a reputable rank in the Edge. He smiles as the growing filly pushes her small body against his. His thick, hot hide twitches in response to the coolness of hers— is she impervious to the heat of Tallsun?
Turning his great head, he playfully ruffles her curly mane with his muzzle. He frowns at her admitting to letting it heal on its own, “Yes, find a healer sooner rather than later. It’s silly to let bones heal haphazardly when we have not one, but two Moon Doctors.” His rumbling voice is firm and nonnegotiable about the well-being of his little friend. He was growing incredibly fond of the filly, her pertness, and her curiosity.
He swings his attention to his General, as she speaks of worrying after Erthe instead of herself. His head cocks to the side at her cryptic words, spoke from a mask that let no emotion through. Such masks were worn to hide pain, fear, or any number of negative emotions. Dark blue eyes lighten with ill-concerned worry, despite her words. “Sometimes it does not matter if you’ve found what you’ve been searching for,” he says quietly, “Instead, it matters what you’ve discovered along the way.” He is generally not one to give adages to broken beings— for he had not wanted them when his soul had been broken— but he felt some need to offer these slightly comforting words to Elsa. Perhaps it was her gaunt gaze and hopeless mask.
Though it is plain that the General did not want to speak of her time outside Helovia, he finds Erthe’s cheeky voice prying Elsa for information. His brows raise and pinch together at her bratty words, as he takes a step away from the filly to fully look at her. “Erthe, do you think it’s very clever to mouth off to your herd’s General?” He had thought highly of the little one, despite (or because of) her propensity for sass. But there was a time and a place for audaciousness. This was neither.
There's a burning star to lead your father home, He'll travel from afar, no matter where you roam. Rest your angry heart, little one, don't you cry, Soon you'll see him come across the bending, bleeding sky.
Feel lucky for what you have, when you have it. Happily ever after doesn’t mean happy forever.
The girl was feisty, she had to give her that. This so called Erthe, daughter of Vadim seemed a bit too big for her britches. Elsa could easily prove she was a general. A spike to the face or a burning chest out of nowhere would have to convince the white filly. You didn’t have to be physically bulky to cause a lot of damage. In the presence of Tembovu, however, Elsa decided that it would be in her best interest to avoid teaching lessons for now.
She watched in silence as Tembovu addressed Erthe. If Elsa didn’t know better, she’d almost think her to be his child if she hadn’t already claimed that her bloodlines belonged to some Vadim. So there was, for a fleeting moment, a concerned Elsa. The limp was evident, so what had happened while she was away? Guilt came rushing forth to the front of her head, and she felt dizzy with exhaustion. These panic attacks had been occurring for a while, and in times of stress and guilt, they visited often. She inhaled deeply, trying to make her mind believe that there was nothing she could have done. But why would damage come to a young one? If the Edge had been attacked, it was cemented that her future here would be short if she managed to cross one of the kings.
Elsa was glad that the striped acquaintance took over for her health. He would be a good dad one day, his children could count on him if he ever decided to have some. His voice protruded into her thoughts though, as he provided a positive outlook to her predicament. The little white one spoke up then from his side, he sassiness made her smirk a bit, and even more so when Tembovu chastised her comments. They had a right to know though, because technically, although unbeknownst to them, Erthe had got hurt, and Elsa should have been around to help. They deserved to know.
“I was looking for my children, my girls, my twins…” her voice trailed off as she bit back the anger that wanted to follow. She wanted to be able to blame someone, and she couldn’t. “A bath was hardly on my mind. They went missing since the original Edge invaded the Hidden Falls a while back. I tried so hard to keep them, but now both of the children are missing along with their father.” Elsa shook her head in distress, taking a step back, afraid her pent up emotions might cause terrible things. “I thought I would be able to find them outside of Helovia, but it seems that with all the time that has passed that I will once again be alone for a while.” It was wishful thinking to hope that she would one day find love again. The emotion was so fleeting, and catching it twice in a lifetime seemed impossible. “I guess you could say that the journey at least taught me how to let go.” Her voice was oddly dead, as she looked between the two companions. Neither of them knew her well, so what would they think of this emotional unload. “And I am sorry, Miss. Erthe, that you were hurt under what should have been my watch. I was selfish to abandon the herd in their time of need.” She offered a low muzzle, although dirty, to show a sign of apology to the young one. “Has anyone else been hurt?” Her question was directed to Tembovu, but Erthe probably knew about the status of the other young ones, if some happened to be born while she was away.
"And now I wish to God that The earth would turn cold And my heart would forget it's made of glass"
At her snide words, Tembovu stepped away from her and the filly felt the distancing, the disapproval more clearly than if he'd kicked her. The force of his gaze drew her in, made her look back up at him reluctantly, sulkily, as the gleaming wings drooped from her shoulders.
"Not clever, just true" she mumbled under breath, defiant even though the reprimand stung like nettles and caused her to shrink away.
It had never struck her as odd, the way she had taken to this big beast of a stallion. They hadn't known each other for very long at all, and yet he had already gained a place in her heart. His opinions mattered more than she currently wanted to admit - it was hard to keep her head high when he so clearly rejected her words.
The explanation Elsa offered - really? She replied even though Erthë had only been asking to annoy her? - didn't exactly make it feel better. A leaden weight formed in the gut as the young seraph remembered her own sorrow, the first days after the loss of her mother when she had yet to accept the inevitable truth. How she had gone from place to place, seeking out their usual haunts and shelters in search of the black mare, crying her eyes out and calling, recklessly screaming for someone that had never answered. Not until she had returned to her father had the reality of it truly sunk in, and she thought she could see similar shadows in the faded blue of this mare's eyes.
Heart bleeding with empathy, Erthë threw an apologetic glance at Tembovu and started forward, limping painfully up to the filthy, bedraggled General with the small, pink nose extended. For every step her demeanor changed, softening from feisty pride into true, honest regret and concern. Though the lips she made to press against a weary shoulder was cold as ice her heart was vast and warm, overflowing with compassion.
"I'm sorry too, for being rude" she said earnestly, vocals sweeter now that she was able to see past the ugly facade and glimpse the damaged soul beneath. "I don't think anyone is hurt but I don't know everyone here, me and dad moved in just recently."
She threw a questioning glance back at the Glazier, quietly asking the same thing. Did he know? Had he seen anyone? Perhaps Erthë ought to stick to the herd a bit more and get to know those who lived here more. Not that she had much of a choice until her legs healed - but if she found things to do in the forest, the outside world might not tug at her as much.
"It wasn't anything related to the Edge, really" she continued, in an attempt to chase the guilt from Elsa's voice. "There's been fights with foreign gods going on all over Helovia, I think people from all the lands got involved in the end."
But now it was over. Four gods of Helovia had brought four new lands and vanquished four demons in the process. The pattern was completed, balance was restored.
"And all the pretty tulips would disappear And never disturb me again"
His thick lips purse at Earth’s defiance, though he had to fight the corners of his mouth from turning up in amusement as he did so. Dark blue eyes crinkle slightly, yet quickly smooth as Elsa’s words steal the humor from his face. His attention shifts to the white, gaunt General, sadness stealing the brightness from his eyes. He felt acute empathy for the loss of her foals, especially during an invasion when a general was expected to be fighting and unable to look after her children. He understood that well— he had lived it.
“I know words mean little, but I am sorry for your loss…” He went to take a step towards the snowy mare, large muzzle beginning to reach out to comfort the lost mother. But he halted his movement as Erthë was suddenly there, delicate pink nose stretching out in compassion.
A hot band tightened in his chest as he watched, listening in silent stillness as his little friend apologized to Elsa. He gently clamped his teeth against the flood of feelings that swamped him— he had never been allowed to feel such avuncular warmth (pride even). He blinked once, sliding his gaze to Elsa as she asked him about further injuries— and thoughts of the deaths from the last battle drowned the warmth that had blossomed in his chest.
Gentle he shook his head in reply, while Erthë partially answered her question. “You were not selfish in your actions, looking for your children is looking after the future of the herd. And Erthë is right, the battles encompassed all of Helovia, not solely the Edge. Your presence here could not have prevented them,” he paused, deciding how to give words to the wars. “Our gods brought in new lands from the Rift, a different realm. The Rift gods objected, and many were injured in the battles. Of the Edge, I believe Erthë was the most grievous physical injury… Though some have died,” he was quiet as he finished, uncertain as to how much information to reveal to the general. He wanted to inform her, but did not want to catalyze more guilt in the broken pegasus.
“The battles are won, now, though.”
There's a burning star to lead your father home, He'll travel from afar, no matter where you roam. Rest your angry heart, little one, don't you cry, Soon you'll see him come across the bending, bleeding sky.
Feel lucky for what you have, when you have it. Happily ever after doesn’t mean happy forever.
The feeling that welled inside of her as the precious white nose reached out to her was indescribable. Her touch was cold, but oddly warm. It felt like a missing piece of her had been replaced, and now she could function again. Elsa reached her nose down after, gently lipping at the girls forelock should she not run from the stench. For being a mother, she never had the time to take care of her children like this. She missed out on what being a mom was really like, and now that she got a tiny taste, her body was craving it. Who knew a child cold as ice could make her feel so warm. She even extended her wing, attempting to shroud Erthe beneath it. ”Do not apologize for being rude. Questioning what you think is wrong is sometimes the best quality one can have. Protect yourself from those who lie and cheat. For all you knew I could’ve been some evil monster. So continue doing you, and I’ll always be here to hand out a wing or two if you need it.” She smiled warmly before folding her wing against her side.
Though the matters at hand could not go ignored. There had been turmoil while she was gone, and she was not here to stop it. Even though Tembovu tried his best to alleviate her guilt, it still permeated throughout her system. But her attention remained fully on him, taking in every word and storing it away as a reminder that she must be here to help next time. It didn’t matter if personal problems were at hand, because the good of the whole was more important than the love of one.
Elsa couldn’t help herself as he landed on the final word. ’Died..’ It echoed through her head, and for a second she believed she had dreamt the word. Maybe she had become delusional, but there was no add on. The man had fallen silent, and the word was left heavily swaying in her chest. She swallowed painfully, her mind walking a thin line between composure, sadness and anger. Dare she asked that question? ”Who… did any from the Edge perish?” Her mouth felt dry as if it had been stuffed with cotton and she took a hesitant step backwards. ”I appreciate your kind words Tembovu but I must insist you tell me if one here has perished. I was trained to do this, and there is no denying the fact that I abandoned my post. At the time that I left, the Edge was scarcely a herd, and as far as I knew, there weren’t many other soldiers.” In fact, she only knew of one. She had heard the name, but never even met the other warrior that was with her. A small exhalation finally released the tension that she built up as she turned back to the white filly. ”And you, when we are done here you better haul your bum to get fixed. Can’t have aspiring bad-asses injured in their childhood.” It was a lighthearted joke in an attempt to alleviate the gravity of the conversation. It held truth, because Elsa did believe that one day this young child would blossom into a master of her trade whether it be a warrior or crafter or anything in between.
"And now I wish to God that The earth would turn cold And my heart would forget it's made of glass"
A pale wing reached out to envelop her, and for the first time since Shadow passed away Erthë found herself embraced in warm, motherly affection. The General's kind words were almost lost in the rush of emotion that surged through her cold body, so strong that tears welled up in her eyes before she had a chance to blink them away. Though she would recall the advice later and feel gratitude towards Elsa for it, in this moment she was too overwhelmed to do anything but nod quietly, her haste to withdraw from the hug disguised with a trembling, shy smile.
Elsa asked more questions then, but this time the filly couldn't answer them. Her mind was filled with the image of a black pegasus lying broken on the ground, while a dull ache of pain and loss in her chest made it hard to breathe. Not only was she sad that her mother was no longer with her, but now Erthë felt guilt too; for seeking comfort beneath the wings of another, for allowing her heart to soften under the smile of someone other than the Blackbird.
It was pointless and senseless, and yet the filly was unable to shake this feeling that she had let her mother down, insulted her memory - even chosen to forget about her. As if anyone could ever mean more to her than Shadow! As if anyone other than the black swan could make the frozen heart of the child melt!
Quietly the little hybrid sidled away from the other two, limping heavily as she made to increase the distance between herself and them. Tembovu was kind and comforting, Elsa was warm and interesting - but they weren't Shadow, and though it hurt to deny them, Erthë wouldn't, no couldn't let herself forget who her real parents were.
"And all the pretty tulips would disappear And never disturb me again"
As the white General folds Erthe under her wing, the striking similarities between the two winged equines jump out a him. His head cocks slightly to the side at the small smiled silence of Erthe— had he ever heard the audacious filly not speak? His probing gaze and thoughts are called away from the pearlescent icicle as Elsa questions after his previous words.
A small, low sigh escapes him— for he had hoped that she would not ask, but knew that a word such as “dead” oft begs further questions. His low voice starts to roll in a calm but sad wave, “My words are not meant to be kind, Elsa. It does no good to wallow in things you could not have prevented nor can you change,” he pauses, studying the General with a deep blue gaze. “Sno, Mauja’s daughter, fell in the last battle. Others— from other herds— fell in the other battles, as well. Though I did not know them,” the image of a fallen young mare, her black body surrounded by Mauja and others, flashed through his mind. And when Vadim and Erthe sought refuge in the Edge, he had assumed Shadow had perished in the battles— he had been too focused with healing Rexanna to truly watch the mayhem of the Flats. But he had seen a crowd around a fallen, winged black mare…
At that thought, his grave blue eyes shift to the small white being who was shrinking away from the General and Glazier. Is that why she was so silent and withdrawn now? Speaking of death when her mother’s was not a season’s past would bring up grief and loss in most children. He had not spoken Mara or Faxr’s name for months after finding their bodies— instead throwing himself into other men’s battles.
He takes a small step towards her, large muzzle beginning to stretch towards her. But he stops himself because he was not certain that the young filly needed touch or comfort. Elsa had given her those and, still, she was slipping away. Sometimes grief needs space to rage and scream and wail and work itself out of the poisonously tangled mess that weighs in one’s chest. “Erthe—” his voice is quiet as he cuts off his question— for he cannot ask if she is okay. She isn’t, not yet. “I cannot say anything to make it easier or better. But I am here, should you need me,” his head is lowered towards her. He ignores the awkwardness of not informing Elsa the reason of his comment, because that is not what is important, now. Though his eyes to flick once towards the icy, broken mother, a silent entreaty for understanding his reasons for leaving her in the dark.
There's a burning star to lead your father home, He'll travel from afar, no matter where you roam. Rest your angry heart, little one, don't you cry, Soon you'll see him come across the bending, bleeding sky.
@Elsa I'm sorry if this didn't make sense. I got interrupted 1000000 times while writing it, so it got a little choppy ;-;
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