Like a ship in need of a direction Maren’s eyes clenched together against the winds. In her ears echoed the whistling of the sandy dusts as they rolled in their tiny frictions over her striped hide. As their verses brought  inspiration and direction, she found her way on the right path. She crossed the dunes to find the oasis gleaming in the winter-y light. There, she looked out at those who had gathered, were gathering - like her - in front of one of the family-heads, Megaera. She stood tall, but also suspiciously round the black stallion Maren knew as Einarr stood beside her. From the inside Maren huffed while she approached the crowd, thinking back at the time Einarr had been skeptical about Maren’s job as a Diviner. Or at least that was how she remembered it. “Goodday Sultana,” Maren noted in warm outlandish tunes. She said hi to Gaucho as well, after which she walked on to seek a nice spot to put her hoofs on a rest. She turned her behind into the wind and waited patiently for their Sultana to start and managed to shake off most of the dust out of her winter-y hide before that happened. She hadn’t seen Gaucho in a while, she realized, but then again, she had been a bit absent minded herself lately as well. When seemingly everyone who would had arrived, Megaera went straight to business. She mentioned the quiet times and then the Rift, of which Maren’s muscles tightened at the mere mention of it (Filth). And she had some other business to attend to, which meant this would be merely a swift meeting. Maren wondered if giving birth was that other thing she needed to do. Her schedule must be busy, she thought. (Maren knew a lot about religion, culture, history. Even the always so intriguing politics, but the basics of giving birth had always remained a bit of a vague concept to her, which was the reason why she was currently under the impression one could simply plan that as well.)  

Eyes wandering aimlessly as she waited, she saw Ru, the little filly she had brought back to the Throat. Maren realized this must be her first meeting, since she looked a bit out of place…or lonely. The tiger mare got a little closer to the girl and playfully nudged her neck in a sudden movement, perhaps hoping to surprise the youngster. Maren didn’t really know why she did, she probably just felt like it. But after she had lightly smiled her eyes wandered back to her Sultana, went back to awaiting whatever would come next.

She sighed after Meg was done talking and others were openly offering themselves as new recruits, then pulled up her stripes shoulders and shrugged to herself. At least I don’t have to babysit anyone, she thought thinking about herself being the only one devoted to their God in both life and job. The sting of jealousy she momentarily felt for Einarr she quickly pushed away.

by the precepts of her purity