the Rift


[OPEN] Spring Maladies

Hera Posts: 50
Outcast
Filly :: Unicorn :: 17.1 :: 3 Months
nickel
#1
THE SUN DOES NOT ABANDON THE MOON TO DARKNESS


It was early morning when the painted filly awoke to herself screaming and tears streaming down her face. Eyes swept around herself frantically only to find herself in the same spot she had hunkered down overnight beside the campfire. The cool air around her made her shiver as she curled herself into a tighter ball trying to will away the bad dream's memories. She had been with her mother again that night running around and doing foal things when all of a sudden a storm swept in bringing torrential downpours and lightning. Nothing went well from that point on in the dream but the last thing she remembered before waking up was seeing her mother in the distance but she couldn't get to her. The next thing she knew was she was gone and that's when she woke up to her own muffled screams.

Wiping her eyes on her foreleg the young girl wobbled to her feet still a little shaken from her nightmare. Things had not been easy this last month or so and no matter what she couldn't seem to shake the nightmares she kept having each night. Since mother was gone and she never knew her daddy she was all alone here to fend for herself, well with the exception of Temby and Elsa on the rare occasion. They tried to help her but they were always so busy with other things that she always seemed to get shuffled aside and forgotten about. Sweeping her long tail against her sides she cleaned the debris from her coat with ease listening to the gentle clinging of her special treasure. It was all that she had left of her mother and it was the one thing she wasn't sure that she could live without now that no one else was here with her.

Fighting away her emotions the girl made her way down to the creek to get a sip of water to help wash away her thirst. Bending her knees slightly to allow her head to reach the water she gulped the cold liquid enjoying the coolness as it made its way into her tummy. Pausing she looked down to her reflection wondering idly how things were ever supposed to get better.


WORDS: ### || TAGGED: @Erthë
OOC: Nadda








[Image: hera_by_bronzehalo_d9gff4d_by_moonstone_...9ggy0h.png]
Please Tag Me In All Threads
Avatar by Bronzehalo

Erthë Posts: 440
Outcast atk: 5.5 | def: 8.5 | dam: 5.5
Filly :: Hybrid :: 14,2 hh :: 3 years HP: 64.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Chan
#2

Morning always came too soon. The deep darkness of the night had a knack for swallowing her worries and troubles and buried them deep beneath the roots of the many towering trees that lined her path. She felt they were safe there, a treasure tucked away next to the skeleton in the closet, shameful and wonderful and thrilling all at once. Things that should not be spoken of, thoughts best left unsaid, dreams rather forgotten... Habits she just couldn't shake.

Dawn ruined all of that. It took the mystery from the creeping mist and paled the shadows until they became thin and powerless, no longer able to hide the bags beneath burning eyes or the grimaces of pain as the effect of forbidden herbs wore off. Light had a way of highlighting things and making them look worse than they were - like the light tremble of the limbs as a pale fawn picked her way down to the creek, the shudder and wince as soft golden rays reached down to tease eyes that were not yet ready for such brutal treatment.

It would seem Erthë was not the only one awake at ungodly hours like these, however. Rarely did she come across anyone by this creek, but today there was a filly there. Young and alone, snow-touched and color-coated, she seemed as out of sorts as the tired dove felt; tears or perhaps something less vulnerable glinted in wintry eyes; the crowned swan blinked and looked away, choosing not to remark upon this. Embarrassed perhaps, to have noticed in the first place; reluctant too, because she was too tired to listen to the troubles of others.

"Morning" she murmured instead as she hobbled down the brink to dip her own lips in the cold, cold waters, clumsy as always from the weakness of her limbs. They were throbbing today, the crooked left foreleg swollen and painful, a perfect match to the aching joint of the right fetlock - always so sensitive to the change in weather. Would it snow again today? It would certainly better than rain - she could still fly if it was only a little snow.

The thing was, Erthë was not very conversational in the mornings. She would much rather do breakfast and head somewhere to hide away, catch a few restless moments of sleep than converse. Standing next to this kid made her feel unusually awkward, because shouldn't she say something? They were nearly the same age, the girl looked like she'd had a rough night too and... and it really was easier to listen to the woes of others than to deal with her own problems.

"Hey... are you okay?" She asked tentatively, quietly, a glance thrown aside by a pale green eye, lips lingering just by the streaming water. The liquid felt good against her dry, chapped lips - maybe she wouldn't mind staying like this for a while. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to listen.

It was about the only thing she could do for anyone, anyway.

ERTHË
I think of love but let it pass
It       feels       like         fire    
but it won't last
image credits


@Hera - unusual Erthë this time, hope you enjoy :D

~| Use of magic and violence is always permitted |~
~| Please only tag in opening posts |~

Hera Posts: 50
Outcast
Filly :: Unicorn :: 17.1 :: 3 Months
nickel
#3
THE SUN DOES NOT ABANDON THE MOON TO DARKNESS


Watching as the droplets fell from her muzzle back down to the water's surface only to muddle her reflection, she couldn't help but feel it an accurate portrayal of how she felt inside..muddled. For someone to lose something so precious it was as if a piece of you was torn away with them. This was how she felt only instead of a piece it was more or less her entire being. Inside she felt as if the world had ended and she was just a mere speck watching down over her ghostly figure seeing, sensing but not feeling. Sniffing gently as a new wave of emotion rolled over her small frame she blinked rapidly trying to hold back the tears.

Mere moments had passed before movement startled the filly out of her stupor just enough to lift her head to catch the hobbled movement of the pearly white girl approaching the creek. Feeling instantly embarrassed about her tears she tried to swipe away any that had fallen so that the other girl would not see. By the looks of it the white girl was older than herself but not by a lot and she had wings and horns adorning her pretty face. It was almost like seeing an angel she guessed before quickly dropping her eyes so that she would not be taken as some creeper. This was the first time she had met someone even close to her age here in the... where did she live again... oh ya the Edge. Would the other girl even like her or want to be her friend?

Having casually passed off the first hello thinking that surely she must be talking to someone else the grulla filly looked up when the same voice came to her again. Feeling like an idiot for not being more aware of who was around them she ducked her head sheepishly. "I'm ok. Just missing someone that is gone away." She said softly trying to make her voice sound more reassuring than it was. Attempting a shy smile she took a small step forward and turned towards the white filly. Deciding not to say anything about the strange way the girl moved she kept her reply to what she had already said not wanting to talk too much and drive the girl away.


WORDS: ### || TAGGED: @Erthë
Hope this makes sense








[Image: hera_by_bronzehalo_d9gff4d_by_moonstone_...9ggy0h.png]
Please Tag Me In All Threads
Avatar by Bronzehalo

Erthë Posts: 440
Outcast atk: 5.5 | def: 8.5 | dam: 5.5
Filly :: Hybrid :: 14,2 hh :: 3 years HP: 64.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Chan
#4

The kid smiled, but to Erthë it seemed as fragile and false as the last lingering sheet of ice on a lake, transparent and easily broken. It made her want to sigh, because she knew those kinds of smiles. Had worn them so often herself; hoping no one would notice how fake they felt, wishing someone would call her out on it and push to know what was really up. With someone disappearing on her... it really was a miracle that the lass could smile at all.

"I'm sorry" she said, and though the voice was a whisper soft as the morning haze and her eyes remained averted, the young cygnet meant it. "I... who?"

About to delve into a story of her own situation Erthë quickly changed her mind and turned the words into a question. It would have sounded so self-centered to talk about herself when she was not the one rubbing tears away with an awkward look on her face, it wasn't she who tried to paint a brave facade in the face of a stranger.

Not this time. Come on now, let the other doll have her moment - you can afford that.

The touch of icy water against her lips felt amazing. Craving more of this sweet relief the winter-born swan answered the beckoning of gravity and descended the brink, traipsing over mud and moss and wilted grass until softly glistening porcelain cloves could submerge one by one into the stream. Though the creek was shallow the relief she felt as water trickled around swollen fetlocks was enough to bring a smile to rosy lips; sighing with pleasurable relief Erthë settled in there, blue-toned wings drooping languidly from slender shoulders - the picture of newfound relaxation. This was better. Like this she could probably even focus on the young fellow by her side, hear what she had to say instead of just listening, like another mute, uncaring rock.

So, go ahead girl. Big sister will listen to your woes, just spill whatever is on your mind.

Wasn't it noble of her, to take time from her precious, busy life and help other people out. So generous - ah, it made her feel good.

ERTHË
I think of love but let it pass
It       feels       like         fire    
but it won't last
image credits


@Hera

~| Use of magic and violence is always permitted |~
~| Please only tag in opening posts |~

Hera Posts: 50
Outcast
Filly :: Unicorn :: 17.1 :: 3 Months
nickel
#5
THE SUN DOES NOT ABANDON THE MOON TO DARKNESS

Letting the silence stretch on for a few moments the fae tried to get a handle on what she was feeling. So many emotions were gathered into one horrible big mess and it was difficult for her to figure out which ones to try and deal with first. How in the world was she supposed to move on anyway when everything you have known is gone? Maybe she was supposed to have starved to death out there in that forest, what if she was never meant to be here in the first place?

Wrapped up in her problems she probably should have realized sooner that her already cold feet were now feeling rather frozen with her standing partially in the creek. It took a minute for the numbness to register before she tenderly took a step back allowing her feet to be back on dry ground. Was there ever a way to get warm in this place she wondered gazing around for a minute or so before drawing her eyes back to watch her pretty new friend walk straight into the cold water. Was she crazy? It was already cold, why would someone want to be colder? This didn't make much sense to the filly until she remembered the strange hitch to her walk. Was she hurt? Opening her mouth to ask she quickly shut it again thinking better of it. Would it be wrong to ask? Out of habit she turned to look behind her to ask her mother only for reality to hit her once more. There was no one there.

Getting back to the girl's question she decided that she wouldn't be able to hide it forever. Plus in a way talking was helping a little bit instead of just curling up in a ball and sobbing. She appreciated the apology but there was no need to apologize for something that wasn't her fault. "My mama is gone." She said softly staring down at the water to try and focus on now breaking apart. "She got lost in a storm and never came back. Now i'm stuck here alone."


WORDS: ### || TAGGED: @ERTHË
Notes go here!








[Image: hera_by_bronzehalo_d9gff4d_by_moonstone_...9ggy0h.png]
Please Tag Me In All Threads
Avatar by Bronzehalo

Erthë Posts: 440
Outcast atk: 5.5 | def: 8.5 | dam: 5.5
Filly :: Hybrid :: 14,2 hh :: 3 years HP: 64.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Chan
#6

"My mama is gone."

Such simple words, yet they felt like a physical kick to the gut, a horrible lurch of recognition because Erthë knew, she could relate so much that it hurt. The longing, the sadness, the confusion and hurt, the way you asked yourself why over and over again until the word lost meaning. There was a difference in that her own mother was dead and not missing, there was an element of uncertainty present that the pale dove had never experienced... but the rest was a mirror image of her own situation, and as she raised her head to look at the girl the sympathy she felt was strong enough to be nauseating.

But what did you say? What could you do, when no words in the world would be able to convey her feelings without becoming cheap, cliché and so often used that they wound up empty?

Erthë didn't know, so she did the only thing she could think of. She waded over towards the painted filly, pursued her up on dry land on aching limbs and reached out to hug her. Opalescent porcelain skin and silken feathers on milky swan wings made to embrace the stout little fighter - icy cold to the touch and could offer no physical warmth, but the force with which Erthë tried to close Hera to her chest made up for it with its burning intensity.

"My mother is gone too" she murmured quietly, not to brag but to explain, to let the girl know she was not alone. "She died... It was almost a year ago but I miss her ever day."  

She cleared her throat, swallowing the lump before it had a chance to grow. It was rare of her to talk about Shadow - the mare had become a taboo topic between herself and her father, both reluctant to cause the other pain by bringing her up. And still it felt good because it made her feel as though the mare was not forgotten, that she had indeed been here on this earth, lived and breathed and left a mark upon history that would not be erased.

"I'm Erthë" she continued, withdrawing slightly should the child allow her. "What's your name?"


ERTHË
I think of love but let it pass
It       feels       like         fire    
but it won't last
image credits


@Hera

~| Use of magic and violence is always permitted |~
~| Please only tag in opening posts |~

Hera Posts: 50
Outcast
Filly :: Unicorn :: 17.1 :: 3 Months
nickel
#7
THE SUN DOES NOT ABANDON THE MOON TO DARKNESS


The weight of the words was nearly enough to break the painted filly but out of some miracle she held on for the great unknown. A world of many changes yet to come that were all going to be huge leaps for the lost soul to overcome. Nothing could prepare her for a life without her family but the idea of having friends might be able to soothe the pain even a little bit. With no father in her life and a mother that was gone the world was a big and scary place for a youngster to navigate.

Eventually she would get through it, or at least give it her best shot.

With her eyes to the ground and her mind a tornado of emotion it wasn't until she felt the gentle warmth against her skin did she realize someone was hugging her. Lifting her head to see the white filly, she allowed her to stay and comfort her. It had been so long since she had recieved a touch so kind and caring but why did she care about her? They barely knew each other, not that it mattered anyway for she knew nobody. Leaning gently into her soft touch a muffled sob broke from her chest that she had not been expecting. Why was it at the touch of another so much emotion could just break down the walls and spill forth for the world to see?

"My mother is gone too. She died... It was almost a year ago but I miss her ever day." The words sunk in deeply to her already vulnerable mind making her see the reason that this girl cared. She too had gone through something similar. Instantly she felt selfish for not being able to control her own grief when others could do so without ever showing the world. Pawing away the tears she drew herself further into the gentle embrace. "Died means gone don't it? " She asked gently wanting to confirm what she had heard from others.

Before this she had never really known what death was but she had heard others use the term including when they spoke of her mother. Didn't they mean the same thing?

Allowing the girl now known to her as Erthë to pull back slightly she finally managed to pull her bi-coloured eyes from the mud. "My mama called me Hera."


WORDS: ### || TAGGED: Erthë
Notes go here!








[Image: hera_by_bronzehalo_d9gff4d_by_moonstone_...9ggy0h.png]
Please Tag Me In All Threads
Avatar by Bronzehalo

Erthë Posts: 440
Outcast atk: 5.5 | def: 8.5 | dam: 5.5
Filly :: Hybrid :: 14,2 hh :: 3 years HP: 64.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Chan
#8

It was in the nature of the winter-hued filly to care about others. No one had taught her this, no one had imprinted on her the need to be open minded, generous or kind. With Shadow for a mother it could even be said that it was something of a miracle for the girl to have turned out the way she did; the lavender-eyed blackbird had been terse and incredibly private, a borderline recluse with very few friends. While Erthë had indeed inherited that sharp tongue and straight-forward bluntness, it was gentled by a likeness to her father's quieter, softer disposition, only without his withdrawn awkwardness and lacking self-confidence. This, along with her very own warm love of people and life in general allowed Erthë to go above and beyond anything her parents had ever been, and it was this successful combination that allowed her heart to immediately accept this wounded girl, include her into the vastness of her generous affection without for a second consider if it was normal or appreciated by the general masses. Oh, she could be mean and self-absorbed too, egoistic and demanding of time and energy... But it all stemmed from the deeply rooted desire to belong, to be of use and be loved back, in the same all consuming way that she did herself.

So when Hera accepted her affection and leaned into her cold-skinned, slender frame for comfort, the dove felt a wide happy smile spread across her face, completely inappropriate considering the topic and the reason why the younger girl cried. She tried to temper it, swallow it back down but it was so hard, because the warm surge of joy she felt at being able to help someone was tumultuous and near impossible to contain, like a flash flood or the surging Thistle River in spring.

Hera stirred beneath the gentle cover of pearly wings, the soft voice posing a question that made Erthë frown, an ear twisting thoughtfully as she mulled over what to answer. She was obviously not a mind reader, but her intellect was flexible and it was not hard to follow Hera's possible train of thought.

"Yes, dead means gone" she nodded and shifted where she stood, swinging the gently curving hips sideways until they stood side by side, her wing stretched casually over Hera's painted back; close and comfortable, and still able to look the saddened girl in the eye.

"But gone does not mean dead, Hera. I mean, she could just be lost still, couldn't she? Unable to find her way back, but still searching. There are many strange things in Helovia; I have seen our Goddess appear from a whispered word and the other gods pull new lands from a magic portal - there are even ways to be there one moment and gone the next. It wouldn't surprise me if it turned out the Threshold moved from one place to the next, appearing only before those who doesn't look for it... "

Dreamy eyes trailed off into the morning mist, clearer now than they had been before but with traces of a waking night still apparent like dark bruises on the tender pink skin. "I wouldn't easily leave this place myself. Who knows if you will be able to come back? Better just remain here, we've got everything we need here at the Edge."

Erthë returned her gaze to the young unicorn and winked lazily, lips ready to curve back into a smile at any moment.

"Tembu and Elsa are like parents to all of us, always clucking and worrying and ordering us around, don't you think? It's kind of like a family, all of us; Captain Nyx can be our aunt and Mauja the uncle who's going slightly bonkers while no one is looking."

This time she did laugh - Erthë was fairly sure that all of the mentioned horses would complain loudly over the labels she placed on them, and that was a thrilling thought unto itself. Maybe she should try calling the spotted stallion uncle sometime, and see how he reacted...

ERTHË
I think of love but let it pass
It       feels       like         fire    
but it won't last
image credits


@Hera

~| Use of magic and violence is always permitted |~
~| Please only tag in opening posts |~

Hera Posts: 50
Outcast
Filly :: Unicorn :: 17.1 :: 3 Months
nickel
#9
THE SUN DOES NOT ABANDON THE MOON TO DARKNESS


If she could remember anything that her mama had told her it would have to be to stay strong. At the time the young girl hadn't made too much sense of the words but the more she heard them, the more they were beginning to make some kinda sense. Temby had said something like that to her as well at one point or another so it could only mean that she needed to get through loosing her mother in someway. Standing before her was a prime example of someone that had also lost their mother and managed to get through it now the only question was how did she do it? The stubborn streak in her wanted nothing more than to just continue the way she had been, but was that really a way to live for the rest of her life? Blinded by grief and paralyzed by her sadness? Erthe didn't so why should she have to? This little piece of information gave her a little bit of hope.

Moving forward and managing to live on her own was another story. She was slowly learning to eat the icky grass stuff but it definitely did not taste very good. Anzaine had been allowing her to feed at least but she really didn't like sharing with the new baby. Guess that meant having to eat more of the grass somehow and just learn to like it, although berries were rather tasty maybe she could just eat those instead.

Listening as Erthe started talking again her suspicions were confirmed about the meaning of died and gone but as everyone else had said she was told not to give up hope. While she wanted to believe that one day her mama might return there was something deep inside her that told her that day would never come. It was like a dark hole filled with pain that made it hurt to breathe, hurt just to live. It was something that she couldn't explain but it effectively crushed any hope that she had about the possibility of ever seeing her mother again despite the stories of this world having strange things happen. "Mama will never come back. I just know she won't. She said softly enjoying Erthe's comforting touch.

As the topic thankfully changed to Temby and Elsa it helped the youngster to feel a little better at imagining everyone going around clucking. This was something she would love to see! Two new names surfaced making her wonder just how many people lived in this strange place. "Who is Captain Nyx and Uncle Mauja?" She inquired poking her head out from underneath Erthe's wing so she could look up at the older filly.




WORDS: ### || TAGGED: Erthe
Notes go here!












[Image: hera_by_bronzehalo_d9gff4d_by_moonstone_...9ggy0h.png]
Please Tag Me In All Threads
Avatar by Bronzehalo

Erthë Posts: 440
Outcast atk: 5.5 | def: 8.5 | dam: 5.5
Filly :: Hybrid :: 14,2 hh :: 3 years HP: 64.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Chan
#10

Pearly brows shot up in surprise at the glum words that spilled from Hera's lips, but though she wanted to, she did not argue with the statement. Something she thought herself hear in the quiet voice advised against it, and not one of all the myriad objections that swarmed her head seemed quite sufficient to convince the girl otherwise. If she didn't want to carry hope then there was nothing for Erthë to do but console her... or, at the very least, distract her from the loneliness and grief.

"You don't know? Then I'll give you a job, Hera! I'm the Seer's apprentice you know, so I can do that!" Probably.

"I need you to find them for me, and let them know that their presence will be required at the next Mist Watch. You think you can do that? It would really help me out a lot..."

Erthë squinted down at the girl that huddled beneath her wing, quietly wondering to herself how much trouble this fake order would land her in. It wasn't necessarily untrue, because Mauja was important enough to the Moon to receive a private audience (the lucky bastard, why him and not her) and Nyx was the general, and they had discussed defenses last time... but it likely went way over her level of authority to be able to order people around like that. To think of what Alune would say if he found out... which he would, sooner or later.

But at the same time, if it got Hera out of this lethargic state, nothing the grown ups did would be too high a price to pay.

"You should try to talk to people more, you know. Both in the herd and outside it. Who knows, if you ask people who wander the Threshold forest about your mother they might have news for you, and even if they don't you can be a great help to people who are new and need a place to stay. As long as you stay away from dangerous looking people it should be fine!"

Or so she hoped. Erthë had no real sense for danger herself, the things other people freaked out over often seemed perfectly reasonable to her, even amusing. Building ice bridges on the ocean, prancing through the wilds on her own, greeting bone-masked strangers with a friendly smile - perhaps she was the weird one, and not everyone else.

She would land her friend in trouble, no doubt about it.

ERTHË
I think of love but let it pass
It       feels       like         fire    
but it won't last
image credits


@Hera

~| Use of magic and violence is always permitted |~
~| Please only tag in opening posts |~

Hera Posts: 50
Outcast
Filly :: Unicorn :: 17.1 :: 3 Months
nickel
#11
THE SUN DOES NOT ABANDON THE MOON TO DARKNESS


Surprise flickered across the filly's face at the proposition of a job. Didn't only grown-ups have jobs? Still non the less she wanted a job! What was a job? Was it hard? Was it the same as a task? Sometimes she hated being so young for she did not know a whole lotta things, but she was learning slowly. Temby had mentioned something about different jobs at one point or another but what had he said again? Something about someone who made stuff, people that protected the herd and thats about all she remembered about that rather boring conversation. Maybe next time she should learn to pay attention to the full conversation instead of only picking out pieces that sounded interesting.

"I want a job!" She announced completely thrilled with the idea. "But what's a seer?" Did they see things or something? It was a rather odd title but maybe it was something fun. Listening intently as Erthe explained her task a frown furrowed her brow. How was she supposed to find them if she didn't know who they were? It wasn't like anyone around here wore name tags. "What's the Mist Watch? How do I find Uncle Mauja and Aunt Nyx?"

She tried to imagine what either of them would look like but came up blank. There had been so many other equine at the meeting but she had been to far away to really hear anything that they had talked about. So how should she know their names? Would she just have to go around talking to everyone? If she called them her aunt and uncle should she start calling Temby her daddy? So many questions burned through her mind but she only managed to vocalize a few select ones. At least the distraction had made her forget about her mother for a little bit, well until Erthe mentioned it again.

"Mama isn't coming back. I can feel it." She said softly shaking her head and trying to push away the thoughts. Go back to her job, what else could she do? Bringing people home would be a bit of a challenge considering she literally got lost walking out into the meadow. How was she supposed to find the threshold place and show people a way back here? Plus her memories of that place were scary, she didn't want to relive those memories all over again. "How would I know if they dangerous?"


WORDS: ### || TAGGED: Erthe
Notes go here!












[Image: hera_by_bronzehalo_d9gff4d_by_moonstone_...9ggy0h.png]
Please Tag Me In All Threads
Avatar by Bronzehalo

Erthë Posts: 440
Outcast atk: 5.5 | def: 8.5 | dam: 5.5
Filly :: Hybrid :: 14,2 hh :: 3 years HP: 64.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Chan
#12

Her tactics of distraction sort of worked, because the kid definitely seemed to like the idea of a task. But along with the enthusiasm came a barrage of questions that left Erthë staggering, jaw agape over the simplicity of Hera's confusion. Was the girl dumb? Was she a bit slow, or did she honestly just don't know? Or, a more frightening though, was Erthë the strange one as she never needed instructions in order to complete a request? Thoughts reeled as she stared down at the filly beside her, to a dying mare's last wishes, the difficulty of following such vague instructions, the long felt desire for someone to explain where she was supposed to go, who she ought to talk to...

"If you don't know who they are, you will have to find out" she said, with a little smile. "The Seer is the Moon Goddess' high priest, who communicate with Her by gazing into the mists of the Edge. The current one is named Alune, a big blue stallion with white mane and tail. I help him out, that's what being an assistant means."

She tilted the head thoughtfully as she pondered how to explain the rest, carefully suppressing the stir of impatience that reared an ugly head within her gut - she had figured all this out by observing, by participating and being out and about. Surely her new friend ought to be able to do the same.

"The Mist Watch... I do not know if that is an official name, but that's what I call the ceremony where the Seer talk to the Moon. I was allowed to attend last time, it was amazing! She came to speak with us in the flesh... and She even knew my name."

A warm glow spread through her insides this time, a giddy remembrance of shock and delight and fluttering excitement upon hearing that haunting voice. The way She had spoken Erthë's name, how She remembered the flowers placed on a withering shrine... If the girl hadn't already been infatuated with the goddess it would no doubt have been enough to snatch her heart away then and there.

It was hard to pull herself back from the dreamy reverie those kinds of memories landed her in, all the more now that Erthë was sleep-deprived and weary after a long waking night. The warmth that radiated from the body next to her made her drowsy; suppressing a yawn she went on, unwilling to leave Hera's most important question unanswered - even though there was no definite way of explaining it.

"Well you won't know, really" she said vaguely. "Not right away. You have to watch them for a while, see what they do and how they talk and such. And if they give you a bad feeling in the gut, or they seem mean or rude or way too friendly even though you just met, then you should excuse yourself and get the heck out of there."

She stifled another yawn; the sun was rising higher in the sky with each passing breath, and the dazzling light reflected from the rippling waters of the creek made her eyes sting.

"I met this stallion once who wore a skull over his face... all bones, with antlers and jutting horns and dark sockets. He was blind, had no eyes at all but I swear he could see me anyway! It was creepy, I got out of there as soon as I could."

Shuddering from the memory of the encounter, Erthë carefully disentangled herself from the comradely wing-hug she'd shared with Hera and stretched, limb after limb thoroughly worked through until something in the arcing neck popped and sent a wave of relief tingling down the spine. Feeling that the time for this chat was drawing to a close - mostly because she was too tired to keep her head on straight - she peered back at the younger lass, expecting a definite reply this time.

"So, do you think you can do it? Find Mauja and Nyx, that is, and give them the message? You will need to talk to people in the herd to find out who they are, but I think you will be able to do it. You are smart, after all, and no one pays much attention to foals; as long as you keep your eyes and ears open and pay attention to what people say it shouldn't take you long!"





ERTHË
I think of love but let it pass
It       feels       like         fire    
but it won't last
image credits


@Hera

~| Use of magic and violence is always permitted |~
~| Please only tag in opening posts |~


Forum Jump:


RPGfix Equi-venture