M E G A E R A
“We cast a shadow on something wherever we stand, and it is no good moving from place to place to save things; because the shadow always follows. Choose a place where you won't do harm - yes, choose a place where you won't do very much harm, and stand in it for all you are worth, facing the sunshine.” -- E.M. Forster


Megaera’s day was set to start as most did, watching the sun rise from beneath the Dragon’s Blood tree. It had become a habit, a ritual, to greet the dawn and give thanks to the Sun for all she had been given before starting her day. Most in the herd would know by now that if they had something to tell her or to ask, that there was the surest place to find her.

Today it seemed her only company would be Gwaihir, but the time spent with him was quiet comfort and the mare cherished it. He sat perched on her withers and through their bond he complained about the bother that Nizho had caused him the previous day. If Meg didn’t know better, the eagle’s diatribe would have caused her to never ask him to take babysitting duty again, but she could feel the uncle-like affection that Gwahir had for her children. besides, she would have been fine with letting the children to their own devices during the days; it was Gwaihir that insisted on tailing them.

Megaera was just beginning to laugh at the fuming eagle when a shadow crossed the brightening sky. In an instant, both laugh an complaint were silenced and two pairs of eyes snapped to the four-winged zephyr as it swooped again in front of them. It was a strange feeling for Megaera, to suddenly realize how complacent she had become in the past few weeks, how at ease. All had been well in the Throat, all had been calm, and she had lived in worked in the company of her friends and family unafraid of the future. All that quiet calm of early morning came crashing down around her.

The zephyr swooped, clear in his attempt to garner her attention and immediately Meg cast her eyes about her to look for Mesec but the demigod was nowhere to be seen, that cast the fist shadow of fear over her heart. the pinch of talons on her neck and a gentle push of weight before taking off was Gwaihir’s signal that he would follow and the Sultana picked up a quick step, moving away from the trap and towards open ground. In a few steps she had fallen into a gallop and flung her wings out testing the morning air and before long they lifted her.

They followed Lucius in silence, the mare’s hear tripping with urgency and the raptor cautioning a cool head. It didn’t take the party long to reach the Heart lands, and below stood Mesec. It was a relief, even if a momentary one, that the messenger had not led Meg to another battle or some other scene of bloodshed; the stallion that stood below might have a handful of fresh scrapes, but at least he stood open his own feet.

”Why does he wait here?” Gwaihir voiced the question that had barely dared to enter her mind and meg felt her stomach drop. There was only one reason she could think of that Mesec would have sent for this way. She fell like a bullet, tearing out of the sky with a final burst of speed only slowing her momentum when the ground rushed up to meet her.

“Mesec!” There was the strain of worry in her voice but it was not raised as she called out to him. Fout hooves found the earth with practiced skill and wasted no time in ushering the Sultana towards her friend. For a moment she did not speak but let her dark eyes move over the scratches across his shoulders and his subdued countenance. Her breaths hung between them in the cool air, thinning into mist like the silence that stretched for lifetimes. “Tell me.” the whisper was an echo of the promise she had made. I could not leave you to face such a thing alone.