The gathering drew her in, like it had so many times before. With her head curiously tilted the young mare listened with interest to the question asked, and more intently still at every answer offered. She had never really paused to consider how vastly different the horses of Helovia were, but it was made so utterly apparent here today. What might have been a simple question was turned into something very complex, much like how the singular colors of warp and weft managed to form complicated patterns in a weave. It was quite glorious, somehow deep and clarifying in a way that set goosebumps rising all across her skin.

Some of the answers made her frown, others still pulled her lips into a smile. Little Laume in particular received a wide smile from the young acolyte, because the filly mirrored her own sentiments almost word by word. Indeed, Erthë too would like to know more about the divine beings, but she couldn't deny that she like so many others also craved more. In the depths of her heart, could she pretend that she truly desired only knowledge for its own sake?

She thought back to her recent encounter with her goddess, thought of the kindness the Lady had shown even though there had been nothing in it for her. Erthë wondered, not for the first time, why the goddess had appeared before her. Surely not only to help a child that had strayed onto a path that would lead only to dead ends and suffering, surely not just because the little hybrid lived within the shadows of the Edge?

Then again... why not. Perhaps there was no deeper purpose behind everything the gods did. In the end, they might be as free and boundless as any mortal, as chaotic and kind and unpredictable as either of these souls gathered before the smoking serval today.

Erthë wondered what she would ask of those beings, if she had but one more chance to do so. Would she ask for power or health or the purging of evil from the world? Would she demand their absence, or presence, or that she too might walk amidst the stars and be worshiped by mortals, just like they were?

In the end, she shook her head and turned her gaze upon the supernal being in the tree, thoughtful even as she raised her voice in reply.

"In the end, good sir, I hope I would ask for nothing more or less than honesty" she said, "as I do from everyone else I meet - and from myself."

After all, what did it matter in the end how strong she was or how healthy and happy everyone around her was, if people were unable to trust each other - or themselves? Evil would still fester in their hearts; health, happiness and prosperity would come to an end and no amount of love or companionship would be enough to overcome it.

That was what she believed, at least.