Ru must have been doing something right. There was a certain ring to a home, and perhaps it was far too early to call the Dragon’s Throat a ‘home’ just yet. But the young one couldn’t help her excitement bloom inside her chest, and infect her with all sorts of renewed energy. Despite the cold winter night prior, she stiffly awoke with a determined grunt – wiggled her puff of a tail – and quickly took to the open sky.

With so much to explore and the infinite amount of places to discover, there was no other way than to view all of it from the air. Map out the terrain, and take a chance on what this world had to offer.

Whether it was foolish of the filly or not, would ultimately depend on what might happen at the end of the day. Though as she was beginning to discover, independence was both a blessing and a curse. The night would beckon her thoughts to calm and stand still; a consequence of the falling sky and the dark oblivion ahead. There were things she wished she knew, and tugged at something inside of her she did not want to revisit.

Abandonment came with a distinct set of emotions for the filly, and the crawling thoughts during those still nights would not stop their torment. It was a good thing then, that the sky was not quite so lonely. There were stars to greet those who looked long enough. For now the simple flutter of light streaming the void from depths unknown, soothed away whatever fears – prevented them from crawling over and churning inside that head.

Sucking in the sharp, cool air, Ru delighted in her flight. Gliding simply and hovering above the earth untouched by worries or fears. At least this time around, she could try and race back to the Throat should something sinister follow.

But let’s not get too carried away, she thought. There weren’t really monsters out there, was there? Those were just stories the old ones would tell, so the children – like me – would listen right?

Hah – Ru was smarter that… Right?

Right!

As the filly neared the opposite beachside so close to ‘home’, she caught the scent of fire; a different kind of smoldering she was not accustomed to. It wasn’t at all like wood burning, far from it. She ruffled his nose with slight distaste, and began to pursue its trail.

It was about this time, crossing further beyond the shore that she had just spotted another. But before she could grab a good view of who or what it had been, they seemed to have been swallowed up by the earth all together! The filly squeaked, continued for a few more strokes from her wings before making a sharp turn back. She brought her wings in for a quick descent, before spreading them out like a sail to capture the air around her. Coming to a sliding halt on the snowy ground.

She took into view the crater, and how the snow closest to it melted away. This all seemed quite delightful. But before she could investigate further, she curiously cut her way through the snowy edges, pursuing the figure she lost sight of. Once excited and nimble limbs, slowed and cautiously neared the mouth of the opening. With a bubbling coo, the young girl regained her confidence when a wave of heat pressed against her.

Shuffling her wings and folding them close, she glanced back behind her with her ears dancing around. Glaring back into the foliage, and weary of any intruders. Because there was no sky in a cave; and this method of high tailing it would be severely compromised.

Satisfied for the time being, she resumed her gaze and carefully followed after the stranger. It was along this main entrance that she spotted the back end of her quarry. Which was hard, considering that this cave was incredibly beautiful. But as to maintain her cover, Ru kept close to the walls. Brushing up against moss, and biting her tongue so as not to yelp into the cave entrance.

Though it appeared her quarry was taking their time; noting their gaze now and then, and the cautious steps the stranger took the further they went. It gave Ru a moment to appreciate the odd lighting, and furthermore; the toasty feeling of the heat. Looking back for a moment, she kept pace and managed to catch where the other person was headed.

The sound of the falls, once audible and gaining in volume were odd. There was a point where Ru felt reluctant to follow this frosted creature. Wary and anxious as the walls seemed to close further on them – the caverns, seemingly endless. Until she lost sight of the stranger once more; thinking – if I were to get lost, no one would know I was ever here! Fear provoked her onwards, and ignoring her cowardice took stock of the fellow just ahead. Picking up her pace into a trot, she was rewarded by a far more opened area. Ru let out a sigh, and immediately gazed about the ‘Sunken Falls’. It was as if the water itself glowed, ethereal and somehow magical.

The girl’s eyes fell in love with what she saw; the dangers of the cave, and the oppressive space dissolved from her mind. She even started to giggle lightly, simply happy that at least there was some relief to her previous fears.

Which finally brought her back to the mysterious figure. This one had wings too! The further she looked, the more she could take account of the person. Especially where their tail should be – and how wip-like it first appeared. She grunted with interest, and barked at the other female with a whinny.

As she continued to close the distance, Ru was beginning to find it hard not to peel her eyes away from the mare. She seemed… perfect for this setting. The light was magical, and how it reflected back and against them seemed to bring an added feature to this mare. As if she truly glowed, dappled by the reflection of the water. The young one finally stopped, stood still and seemed to be staring up at the stranger then. Not at all perturbed that that had been all that she had done. Besides calling out in greeting.

Ru had found something pretty.  

@Adria