A pink spattering of light drifted across the skies overhead and danced into the softening haze of an orange sunset. The shadows of winter were upon Helovia despite the autumn breeze that sailed through the barren wood. The chatter of nighttime creatures, both small and large, sifted eerily along the vacant pathways that made up the heart of the Deep Forest. As we trailed easily along those very pathways, our footfall disturbed a hare that darted quickly in and out of the brush until the bright, white fangs of an arctic wolf brought it down from just behind. I’d always hated the hunting and the blood that accompanied calling Romul my companion, and yet I couldn’t imagine a life without him. He was my soul when I could not feel and my strength when I could not thrive.

Where once the thought of meandering aimlessly between the shadows of the night would set my heart ablaze with fear, it did not anymore. Where once I felt alone and bereft in a world with too many unknown faces, I was no longer by myself. His presence calmed even the worst of my frustrations… I’d been lucky to find him so long ago in the Edge. Perhaps it was the last thing I remembered fondly of the land by the sea now that my memory was so overtaken by war and defeat and loss.

I watched brazenly as the wolf drug his kill into the underbrush where I studied the flashes of white fur as he tore away flesh from bone. Romul seemed unperturbed by my sudden need to observe him and instead snarled, low and deliberate, to ward off any other threats that might present themselves in the night. He was always taking care of me, even when I felt I didn’t need him to. He was the one true love I’d always known.

Evening was just passing when we’d found our way to the forest, but with dusk now hours behind us, Romul and I wandered side by side only to enjoy the company of one another. “You are quiet,” he noted with concern.

“Do you ever think about what would have happened if we’d stayed?” I asked softly. The wolf paused, his head hanging low, and grunted. “You know what I think” he bit irritably.

I’d always known how he’d received my need to run, that much was certain, but I’d always been unable to do the right thing. Romul had just been kind enough to respect my desires… even if they were so often misdirected. “I’m sorry…” I breathed hoarsely.

I’d always been sorry.

For leaving… for staying… for everything. I was sorry for losing the Falls, sorry for not seeing the clues before the Basin and the Edge had taken everything away… Just… sorry.


Essetia & Romul

The faint, haunted warnings of a wolf in the night sounded through the trees as Romul crouched down against the leafy forest floor. The approaching footfall had not eluded me, but I knew that the snapping and growling my companion felt was so necessary would not elude them either. In an attempt to catch wind of our “guest”, I tilted my muzzle upwards into the slight breeze that drifted easily through the desolate woodland. However, the creature that emerged from the impending darkness was not one I’d been expecting. In some ways I wanted to apologize for Romul’s crude behavior (as well as his crude appearance), but could not find the words nor the care to do so. The young female clearly had no reason to be stalking us in the night, so I had no reason to act contrite for being wary.

She’d called to us before inviting herself to our company, which was amusing in and of itself, given she had no idea who I was or what I was capable of. I supposed it was no fault of her own, but only her young age and complementary ignorance that made her so bold. In a way it made me respect her, even if I simultaneously wanted to scold her for her brazen actions.

“Are you alright?”

Of course I was alright… I was more than alright. I was living, breathing, and moving around was I not? Whatever ailed my mind was no business of hers- of course that never stopped anyone before. “As alright as I’ll ever be,” I responded curtly and without explanation. Since she’d come all this way just to annoy me, I figured it was enough to allow her a moment of my time… Though, I couldn’t figure out what made her believe I’d be good companionship anyways… I had a bad habit for bad behaviors.

At first I’d almost missed the plume of inky smoke that coursed from her lips when the young mare spoke, but the scent of fiery ash did not fall short on me. Upon closer inspection I could see the shadowy whisper of smoldering slag as it dissipated shortly after being expelled from her presumably gabby jowls. I had to give it to her though, she appeared genuinely concerned and (since I felt somewhat bad for her after wanting to let Romul take a chunk of her leg) that was enough for me to bear her presence.

The girl was a creamy shade of beige with a horn that nearly split down the middle. She was interesting to say the least and the longer she stood there, the more I wanted to know about her. Why was she so strange? Why was she here alone so late in the evening? Why did she care what was wrong with me? (Not that it was any of her concern anyways.)

“Sorry, Romul needed to hunt…” I stated tersely while glancing back toward the red-jawed wolf. I didn’t like to allow him to hunt in the Throat since we’d only just returned and besides, the forest had more edible game. He preferred rabbits and mice. “Who are you anyway?”


Essetia & Romul

The menacing smoke that unfurled from her slender lips snaked its way toward Romul and the wolf snarled. I knew that the gesture was done in good fun, but I gave the young mare a knowing look that was meant to ward her away from taunting my hyper-sensitive companion. He was nothing if not cruel and was quite comfortable with asserting his dominance over others if the need arose. I did have a say in how the wolf behaved, but for as long as I’d known him, I wasn’t often fond of restraining his natural desires. What Romul did was rarely a reflection of me; he was his own creature even if we shared an unshakeable bond. Like the feathers that shifted along the young girl’s sides, Romul’s hackles rose despite the silent, comforting words I used to calm his wounded pride. “Contain her…” he urged in the back of my mind. “Careful there, I’m the only one who can take a joke around here.”

However, the hybrid didn’t seem to mind my advice (which was fine and dandy if she wanted to deal with the ramifications) and instead pressed onward, looking to fill the gaps in our lackluster conversation. I had to hand it to her though, she was certainly brave and that was something I was beginning to admire in her. She was obviously unperturbed by Romul’s threatening attitude and certainly not put-off by my own. Creatures like that were so often few and far between… Perhaps her acquaintance would benefit me one day- or was it friendship I was considering?

“Ah, yes, we’re a bit out of practice in the art of making introductions. As you can see, my choice in company prevents me from getting out much-” I began with a softer tongue. I didn’t want to make an enemy of the girl, nor did I want to diminish any chance of figuring out why she’d decided to approach me in the first place. “-he’s just a bit overprotective at times.”

With such a turn in my own demeanor, I decided that it was time to relax and send Romul to scout the pathway ahead. At least then, Auriel (as she later named herself) and I could walk and talk… I’d never been a fan of standing still for too long. For a moment the wolf contemplated my request, but with a slight grunt he turned on his heels and crouched into the underbrush (presumably watching me from afar) until I gestured for the girl to follow me. “So, Auriel-from-the-Edge, I’m Essetia. I now hail from the Throat where the water is warm and the sand is hot. I assume you know Elsa then?” I questioned yet again, prying information with reckless abandon. Perhaps she could tell me how the snowy mare was managing in her position as… general? If I wanted to gain intel, then now was the time to start… Maybe this Auriel would know what exactly had happened at her borders the other day….

Maybe she would know who had passed away.


Essetia & Romul

The creatures in Helovia had advanced not only in pedigree, but in wit and courage as well. That was a fact that I was slowly coming to terms with after spending time with so many new and refreshing individuals. Auriel was no different, but in fact just the same. She was brave and unnerved by the wolf and his obvious need to assert dominance over her. It was a trait native to his species, which I was certain she would quickly realize if her behavior continued unchecked. Even as I watched her golden eyes grow wide and curious, I couldn’t refrain from laughing at the whole ordeal… smart child, this one.

As we pressed further into the woodland, I allowed the moonlight to guide our way toward destinations unknown. Whatever we found or wherever we went, we would always be within the safety of Helovia… Of course that safety was and is an impartial thing come about in the dreams of mere children. Whether or not fate decided our destiny could only go one way or another… that was something we’d never escape.

Any confusion or doubt borne of meeting one another was so insignificant in the grand scheme of things… Perhaps that’s why I’d decided to let bygones be bygones, for life was so very fleeting, so short. However, upon whispering Elsa’s name to the breeze or into the waiting ears of her apparent daughter, I was heartily surprised. It was that surprise that halted our little soiree, whereupon I turned my cloudy stare into that of premium gold. “Really now? I didn’t know…” I faltered on a breath. I shook my head quickly, causing long strands of blackened silk to waver against my neck and shoulder. It was then that I fell quiet, succumbing to new and interesting reels of thought.

Auriel too appeared wizened by our connection to Elsa and her curiosity had not gone unnoticed. “Elsa… is a good friend to me,” I began with some hesitancy. “I wanted to know if she was well.” Or as well as any of could possibly be after leaving so many ties unattended. “Does the Edge- does it suit her?” I questioned feebly. I abhorred any reminder of my father and the land of my birth, but they had taken from me something more than just land. They had taken trust only because they feared… fear was an ugly thing that caused rash behavior, I was familiar with the consequences, but Midas had died in the turmoil. He had given his life and now those how had once inhabited the Edge now thrived in the Gallant’s old skin… They played the martyr thanks to his old bones.

"Might you also know something of the death at your borders not so long ago?" 


Essetia & Romul

Perhaps it was an oversight on my part that I’d missed the resemblance or maybe I just hadn’t been listening back then, but I felt the hardened edge of the girl’s gaze when I’d admitted my lack of knowledge for her existence. Somewhere within I felt a pang of sadness, one that reacted to my own ability to ignore vital facts about another’s life… It was a weakness, a downfall- selfish greed. Whatever one needed to call it, I knew that I hadn’t been there for Elsa and I hadn’t been the friend she’d undoubtedly needed. For shame, I looked away into the trees hoping to hide my own embarrassment and regret. More than anything I wished that I could go back and be the kind of shoulder the new Queen had been wanting to lean on, but of course I’d been distracted… unavailable.

But wasn’t that the story of my life? Wasn’t I just the glass wall that stood between my heart and all the others? Was there really any point in reaching deep to find caring that didn’t exist? As far as I was concerned, I didn’t feel, not really. The only love I harbored in my chest was solely for Romul… all else was cold, blackened stone.

Yet somehow it made such a pretty picture, one that outsiders liked to fancy in passing, but never touch. Beyond the walls of crystal and the glinting of ash, I was just a girl, a child waiting to be taken to a home that wasn’t mine. All of it was an ugly tale that I hoped never passed my lips, not for Auriel, not for anyone.

She was one of the ‘good ones’, I could tell, and yet not the one. Her pretty smiles and practical concern were for naught, at least in my case, and though she seemed all too sincere, there was something darker just beneath. We all succumbed to self-preservation when it came to the sensitive parts of ourselves that were reserved for family and the like, but I had no family… not really. “Good… She’ll make a fine Queen if you ask me, a fine Queen indeed,” I mused halfheartedly. “Perhaps it’ll distract her from thoughts of the Falls.”

I wasn’t certain how much Auriel know of the Hidden Falls or if she’d even been there at the time, but with the object of freedom at our core, I decided to let the details fly. It was her mother after all- children were supposed to care about their mothers right?

However, any news I’d been hoping for about deaths in the Edge was moot. I’d chosen the wrong victim to interrogate when it came to the gathering I’d witnessed at the borders of the World’s Edge. Maybe I had no right knowing anyhow. “It looked… like someone had passed- a funeral of sorts,” I informed vaguely. There wasn’t much else I could offer on the subject and so I turned my head toward the open walk before us, unable to conjure anything other than thought. 

 Essetia & Romul