Persephone

It's all my fault, it's all my fault.

The familiar refrain started again, chorusing through my mind in the voices of myself, my mother, my father. It was all I had heard since I had chosen to leave home, all I had thought since I found myself ripped from my homeland and torn through the Rift. It was all I had felt since the beginnings of my childhood failures, and suddenly it all seemed too much to bear. How much pain and anguish was I meant to hold in this life? For how long was I to endure the tortures of the world? When would I emerge from the darkened shroud of my existence to shine as much as my body already does?

I am not a pleasant creature to be around, I know that. And yet, through my stuttered, stumbling, awkward pleasantries, Agnodice has remained by my side with patience. I am embarrassed for her to have seen me like this, for her to be subjected to my misery; but I am also grateful for her kindness and her grace. I can see the pity in her eyes, in the lines of her face, and though a part of me does not want her sympathy, I find myself calmed by the compassion inherent in it.

And yet... perhaps I am placing my trust too easily in the gentle mare. Perhaps she is simply manipulating me; it would not be the first time I had fallen into such a trap, nor would hers be the worst betrayal I have experienced. I watch as she begins to search the glass basket that I have only just now noticed at her hooves, intrigued, but uneasy. I wonder if many such items are present in these lands, if they are difficult to come by. I wonder if she is going to trick me, or poison me, or both. Perhaps I have fallen into yet another cruel game that I am not crafty or cruel enough to win.

As the mare moves closer, I momentarily tense, my tail wringing uncertainly as my ears flicker back and forth. Still, she moves slowly, almost cautiously, and I find myself leaning toward her with curiosity. As she begins to speak eagerly, explaining the array of herbs laid on top of the basket, I feel my confusion returning. I sniff the leaves carefully, pleased to find that the peppermint does indeed smell delicious, then peer at the mare. "But I... I don't have anything to offer in return," I protest softly, despite how badly I want to simply take the gift. I don't believe it will be that simple - it never has been before. "Why would you want to help me when you don't even know me?" She did say that she was a - what was it - a Caretaker? "Is this... what Caretakers do?"

"Speech."

OOC ;; @Agnodice No worries, dear! <3

lost in hell, my dear. It's not so dreadful here