The wind was unexpected, as was the soft voice that reached her from across untold distances. Goosebumps coursed across her skin and she shuddered, unable to suppress the ripple of dread and delight that surged through her. It was a gentle wind, so akin to her mothers kisses that Erthë had to swallow a sudden lump in her throat. She wanted to lean into that touch, savor it and forget everything else...

But she didn't. Opening her eyes the filly slowly raised her head, disbelieving eyes coming to rest on the goddess as she slipped through the veil between worlds, as easily as if it were mere grass or silken curtains. The lump remained in her throat, accompanied now by a whirlwind of fluttering wings somewhere in her guts, a giddy, nervous excitement that made her lips tremble as she smiled at the divine lady. She had come! Erthë had spoken to her and She had listened, as though her worries and concerns were actually important, not just the moody outbursts of a teenage girl.

The lavender empress of the night came to stand beside her. The feeling of her presence, the very idea of having the celestial being so close nearly muted the young hybrid. She opened her mouth to answer, but it was some time before words actually left her tongue - and when they finally did, her voice was quiet, barely a whisper that quivered precariously.

Was it fear, awe, uncertainty? Erthë wasn't sure herself. Perhaps it was a bit of everything.

"Well, I... I want to make them proud. Dad, and Tembovu and Alune and everyone in the herd." And you. I want to make you proud of me too. "It matters what they think, because I love them. I want to make them happy, make it so they don't get hurt or sad... I just don't know how."

Erthë raised her eyes to try and meet the gleaming gaze of the Lady. Again she felt her insides squirm, but this time it was a different kind of emotion that caused it. Something like affection and gratitude for being there, but deeper and more pronounced.

Yes. Of course. She loved the Goddess too.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Erthë asked, the hope so strong it felt as though her heart would burst from it. "Do you need anything done, something you don't have time for? I'll do whatever you like!"

The goddess wasn't wrong. Erthë had been stronger as a weaning foal than she was now, propelled forward by eager selflessness and a complete lack of fear of consequences. She had been braver before she learned what death was, more daring and confident when her legs still obeyed her and her nights were free or nightmares and throbbing pain. That she, in her stupid decision to get involved in a fight without the strength and skill that was required, might be the ultimate cause of her mothers death had sown seeds of doubt within her. Creeping vines of guilt and grief that, like ivy which slowly smothers an impregnable fortress, undermined the confidence that founded her entire existence.

Erthë wasn't wholly conscious of this. She was so good at keeping up the facade of spunk and exuberance that she even fooled herself, not noticing that she was turning into a bubble of glass, perfect on the outside but hollow inside, fragile enough that a careless tap might make her shatter. Insecurity thrived in that empty void, enough so that seeing her wayward father look at another child made her question their whole relationship, from her love for him to the very purpose of her own existence.

It wasn't very pretty; she wasn't perfect, and had never tried to be. Just like her soul the small body held scars, souvenirs from bad decisions and the price she had payed for stubbornness. Even now toxic substances pulsed through her veins, consumed in excess to cope with pain she believed she would have to endure for the rest of her life. Maybe it dulled the ache of longing for a mother that would never come back too, perhaps it had become a crutch against which to lean - a reason not to try harder, a shackle placed on herself by herself, much more than by others. Perhaps it was to hide this that she had begun to put so much stock on what others thought of her, what they saw and felt when they looked at her.

It wasn't even something she had actively decided to care about - it just happened gradually on its own, while she was busy hiding from herself.

No, Erthë was not actively aware of all this, but as she listened to the Lady and felt her own determination falter from the truth in Her words the girl became aware that she had indeed lost something more than a parent that horrible day on the Flats. She didn't recognize her own reaction, the dejection and confusion upon hearing that she ought to live for herself, for her own sake and not for others. The immediate reaction was to protest, to shake her head and reject it all - what meaning can there possibly be if I'm the only one who see what I become - but she didn't dare.

Instead she lowered her gaze and shook her head, obediently agreeing with the example; "No, I wouldn't like that."  

The Goddess smiled again, so kind and gentle as Erthë had never seen her before. Was this the same divine creature that had flung mouthy mortals aside as though they were mere flies buzzing around her exquisite ears? Had she truly battled another god on a field drenched in blood and sweat, chewed out kings for not being where they should and wreaked havoc across Helovia on countless occasions? In the midst of her inner conflict Erthë couldn't help but marvel at this new side of her. How many facets did this woman have? How many colors did she hide within her shadowy folds, unseen by mortal eyes who only perceived what was right in front of their noses.  She felt privileged to be allowed to witness this side of her, and as this emotion solidified within Erthë's spirits rose again, enough so that she wasn't crushed when the Moon God gently rejected her offer.

Looking up at the regal doe as she continued to speak however, the young cygnet pricked her ears at a turn of words that tasted almost like a clue, a hidden challenge. Was she imagining it?

"I would! I do! Does... does that mean there is something I can do?" she asked, the whole of her body coming alive at the thought of having a mission.

It was a difficult thing to grasp indeed that it was her attitude and reasoning that Lady Moon was talking about. Not the things she did in life, but why she did them. It was a nuance, but an important one, and while Erthë was by no means stupid she was so wrapped up in the idea of acting that she couldn't fully take in the true meaning of what was being said. Later she might recall the wisdom of the message and be able to understand... but for now her mind was swimming with the idea of adventures and challenges and maybe even a bit of glory, and the look on her face as she gazed up at the goddess was imploring.

Surely there had to be something she could do, that would help others and help her understand the true meaning of this lesson.

The initial shock of having the soft velvet of her Lady's feathers drape over her almost made the filly pull away. Feeling the beautiful creature so close was lovely and terrifying, like poisoned nectar or dancing on an open field as lighting flashed across the sky. It felt dangerous, like the innocent red flowers that numbed her pain but made her crave more with each nibble, until reality collapsed in a blur of swirling color. But Erthë couldn't bring herself to reject this gesture. Didn't want to either... If this wonderful feeling of affection and closeness was poison she would drain the cup and ask for more. Exhaling a soft sigh of pleasure as all the pains and aches in her body ebbed away she leaned into the embrace, so overwhelmed by the extent of her luck today that she had to struggle to take in what the Lady was saying.

It was perfect. All of it, from the variation between the tasks to the extent of the quest she was about to undertake. This was no mere 'go fetch' task, (not that she would have minded that either) it was a series of actions that would require serious thought and reflection to understand the meaning of. In and of themselves it was fairly simple things, easy to grasp and remember - visit a herdland, get lost, help someone get a friend - but Erthë was sure there was some deeper underlying lesson for her to learn in doing these things. And learning was what she enjoyed most, out of all the things she tried so far in her short but eventful life. It suited her like snow in winter, and the smile that spread across her face as she reached out to accept the white stone was radiant.

"I will!" Erthë promised, feeling giddy with anticipation as she tucked the precious item securely in place in the crook of her wing. "Thank you so much! Is there a time limit?"

Feeling more confident than before - and a lot more comfortable in the presence of the immortal - Erthë boldly extended her nose to kiss a flawless lavender cheek, unable to contain her excitement without showing it in some way. Already her mind was working with the tasks at hand, ordering them in level of difficulty and weighing her options. Did she have a friend she could drag off to the Deep Forest? Well, there was Murtagh and Volterra and maybe Lyanna... but maybe she out to go to a herdland first, that way she might even find a new friend to get lost with. Would that make her very popular though..?

Within her, something purred contentedly at having a new purpose with her time. Suddenly there was something very immediate to wrap her head around, to wrestle with and try to accomplish. It felt good, because she wouldn't have to wait on this event, pretend to be patient and bide time she didn't want to waste - it would only happen when she made it happen, and for the restless young soul it was worth more than all the gold and jewels in the world.