The Thief moved, leaving behind the snowy cavern of her home in search of more to join. Faces had been leaving and suddenly she found herself in the middle of what was turning into a wasteland. But that surely wouldn’t do. She wouldn’t stand letting her home become nothing more than ghosts, gliding between each cave and passing by each other without so much as a hello. There needed to be more that shared her interest in the mountainous landscape similar to her homeland. So she turned her eyes to the Threshold, a place she was sure to find someone. A place she was sure even if it weren’t going to be a newcomer, she might get the chance to reconnect with a friendly face.

As the sun moved ahead in the sky, Rexanna moved along. Her polecat companion sitting snugly along her withers, clutching her dual toned mane in his tiny black paws as bright blue eyes danced around the familiar environment. He had become protective of her after everything that had happened. He wasn’t going to let his attention be drawn away from her surroundings any further. Where he lacked in eyesight, he made up for it with his nose and large fluffy ears. He was the one to alert her to people nearby. So he guided her, mentally pulling and tugging at her to show her where there was something of interest. She followed, happy to have some time to herself after just recently birthing twins.

Stepping closer, she could hear a voice asking something if they were new to Helovia. Rexanna’s creamy ears perked in curiosity as her gilded body slid closer into view. Her chains clinking across her brow as well as her body as she moved, her exotic striped face adorned with a golden horn was the first to appear out of the barrage of trees. Dipping her head to each of the creatures, she took note of the mare that had spoken first. She looked like a sunset, and she was vaguely familiar. Perhaps Rexanna could ask about it later. Marembo directed the Thief to the newcomer as a bright smile reached her lips as she dipped her head to the pegasus as well. She was shorter than the Thief, but built well. Her wings were also large and barred with an ebony that seemed to pull away from the overall greyish white the mare’s body was. But nevertheless, the two creatures Rexanna had encountered here today were very beautiful in their own strikingly opposite ways.

“Hello to you both! I’m Rexanna, from the Aurora Basin.” She began, shifting her weight slightly so Marembo could squeak his own hello. “Welcome to Helovia.” She smiled brightly once more, eyes shifting to the sunrise mare that seemed to have asked a question earlier. So the Thief waited, to see if this other mare was indeed new to Helovia.

“Talk!”

Thankfully, Rexanna hadn’t missed out on much when she had arrived. Marembo, pleased that the company was kind and full of mares (he was more partial to mares than stallions, it seemed), beamed at them with bright blue beady eyes as his head swiveled to keep up with those talking. Rexanna’s own oceanic eyes rested gently on the pegasus mare as she began to speak. No longer did Rexanna have to worry about bringing home only unicorns. Her Lord had said at the last meeting that the borders were open for all. The thought elated her that she’d no longer have to see herself out on the possibility that a pegasus or equine wanted to visit the North. She was able to bring them all home now, and she was excited and pleased at the options she was faced with now.

Dipping her head to Gry as she finished introducing herself, the pegasus mare began to ask of their homes. Turning her attention onto the sunrise hued mare, she offered her a gentle smile - curiosity looming within her where this mare lived. As she began to introduce herself, Rexanna placed the names deep within her, waiting her own turn as she took in the information from the other mare here. She lived in the Hidden Falls, a place Rexanna knew very few people to be. She knew of the small bald faced stallion Ezital and the bright colt - Murtagh - that had helped her retrieve her chains when she had managed to lose them. As far as she knew, the Falls was full of friendly beasts, and as Persephone began to speak of them, Rexanna nodded along with her. The words she spoke were exactly how she imagined the Falls to be from what she heard of it. However, when she spoke of knowing very little of the other lands, Rexanna knew she could help the sunset mare out. The Fall’s mare glanced toward the Thief and she offered her an encouraging smile.

She turned her attention to Gry and then to Persephone, addressing them both with soft words. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both, Gry and Cora.” She began, letting her oceanic gaze drift over to the pegasus mare once again to answer her question. “As I said before, I’m from the Aurora Basin. It’s a land the furthest North you can go in Helovia. We live surrounded by the tall peaks of the mountains and the gentle snowfall that falls throughout the year. It’s cold, but beautiful. Every night the aurora dances across the sky.” She paused briefly. “There are two other herds as well. The World’s Edge is to the east, a place full of trees and mist that live along the cliffside. Then along the south, there’s the Dragon’s Throat. From what I hear, it’s more of a desert like climate. Both of those lands are beautiful, as well as the Falls, but I was born far from Helovia in a mountain landscape. The Basin only seemed right for me, and I couldn’t be happier with my choice.” She admitted, flicking her dual toned tail against her ashen hocks. “I’d be happy to show you both to the Basin, if you’d like.” Turning her oceanic gaze to “Cora” of the Falls. “I’d be happy to offer you a tour of Basin as well, if you ever want to see what else is here in Helovia.” She offered her a bright smile. Perhaps she could come find the Falls mare and invite her to the Festival they were planning. Perhaps doing so would prevent others from finding the Basin to be so cold and isolated.

“Talk!”

After the Thief had finished speaking, she allowed her gaze to dance between the two mares. When Gry began to speak, all ears were on her as she listened intently to the description the pegasus mare spoke of. Nodding to her with a bright smile, the Thief looked up to the sky for a mere moment. “Yes. All the colors you could think of, there dancing across the stars as if nobody were watching.” Her voice was gentle but full of pride at the beauty of the home she had lived in for nearly two years now. Lowering her head back to Gry, she nodded gently, the smile still on her lips as Gry began to address Persephone.

Then the sunset mare began to speak as well, speaking of visiting the North to view such things she had spoken of. Rexanna nodded to her as well, Marembo squeaking behind her with joy at the possibility of so many new people and friends. “You’re more than welcome to visit.” She admitted, offering her a genuine smile. Then, when Persephone began to address Gry once again, she let her eyes linger on the Falls mare. “I do hope we cross paths again, Cora. It was nice meeting you.” She called to the mare as she turned to leave.

Then, her attention lingered on Gry for a few moments with a gentle smile. “It’s a bit of a long journey to the North. I’m sure you’ve been traveling a while. We can take as many breaks as you’d like.” Her voice was gentle as her and Marembo stepped a bit closer to the monochrome mare. “It’s this way.” She nodded her head to the left, remembering the trees and curves in the path that would guide their way home.

“Talk!”