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As I wandered the lands set before me, I found a soft pain in my heart. I’m not sure how it had happened, but I felt as if I had lost all that I could have hoped for. What I was seeking in the strange stallion I will never truly know. After all, we never seemed to further ourselves more than mild greetings. Still, there was something about his visage that stuck with me, something about his promise to appear should I ever call upon him. I had not found any such need, though I found myself thinking of him more and more as of late. I doubted that I could or would ever see him again, and even if he truly would come to my call, I couldn’t think of a situation in which I would do so. I let a soft sigh escape my silken maw as blue eyes traveled to the trees surrounding me. I lifted my tiara and I felt low branches press against the yawning bone that nested there. I carefully shook the leaves loose, the flurry of colour bringing me a moment of delight. It was the autumn season and the trees were beginning to turn, creating a symphony of varying hues around me. My plume swayed lightly behind me as I picked up my pillars in a bit more of an excited fashion.

Even if I would not see the great stallion again, there was no reason to dwell upon those thoughts. The world had so much more to offer me, if I was constantly living in the past, in a solitary moment, I would miss living that which was right in front of me. I gave a satisfied snort, as if the ferns needed to know that I agreed with my own thoughts. I continued forward, my feathers picking up small leaves from the ground as they floated from their perches to the forest floor. I could imagine that my banner was full of them behind me, with the way it floated about just above the earth. I closed my eyes a moment, trusting my step to be sure upon this strange, yet well worn path. I conjured up an image of my inky pelt, dashed with cream, my extremities gathering the golden and sunset hues of the autumn leaves as they traveled, almost as if the season itself were bringing me to this place. I smiled; it was a pleasant image, to say the least.

My bodice swelled with sweet breath and peace as I opened my pools once more, reflecting the soft blue sky that shone between the fingers of the trees far above me.  It was a very pleasant day, the weather still holding warmth from the summer months, but not suffocating the living; more like a comfortable hug from one close friend to another. A light breeze passed by every so often, just as the sunspots shining through the trees might be getting to stifling, something I’m sure the small creatures found as great a respite as I did.  My audits pricked, listening to the rustle of the inhabitants of the forest around me. I could pick up the indication of at least three avian families, and I recalled the passage of a few hares some steps back. A fox slipped through the underbrush to my left, no doubt out hunting for its next meal in hopes to feed its young, should it have any to care for.  It was reassuring to see the world working in tandem with each other.  The birds brought seeds to the forest, made strong by the insects that shared their aerial home, and the birds in turn fed the hungry predator, who fed the earth and the insects when their time was at an end. Each creature played their part in the great epic that was this life; like poetry in motion.

It was almost disheartening to think that many of these creatures might not make it through the harsh winter. I was a large beast, and even I did not enjoy the snowy months. They wouldn’t be far off, though it felt as if the seasons were only just changing. I had found that being distracted by the niceties of the weather was a good way to forget the hunger and the pain of the cold months on its heels. More than once it felt as if winter was upon me before I noticed the nights had become icy and the plants had all but perished. I shook my pelt, trying to shake bad memories from my mind. This year I would be more observant, and this year, perhaps I would have a herd mate or two to find comfort in.

As much as I enjoyed the solitude and the ability to openly reflect with myself, I was beginning to become sore with my own company. I desired friendships that ran deep, a kinship with those around me that wove strong bonds into my heart. I had had those once, in my family, however loose they were. I was finally becoming old enough to understand just how much I took for granted as a filly. Even if my herd did not necessarily speak well of me, they still would have been at my side should I need them. At least, I would have hoped so.  These past years alone had helped me realize many things about myself, to become comfortable with whom I was, regardless of my lineage. I was ready, in heart and soul, to find a herd that would cherish me as I would cherish them. To perhaps, one day, find a love who would think of me and a child as their greatest treasure.

I chuckled, speaking to no one in particular, “Yes, Pip, a child is exactly what you need right now; and a big strong stallion to protect you from the horrors of the world.” I felt the melody of my laughter leave my chest in a bright tone, carrying across the forest. The small joke lightened my soul, even if the thought was true in some regard. Love was certainly on my mind, but I’m sure it was simply because I was quite lonely; that was something I knew would come with time.  Time only comes with friendship, and that is what I truly desired above all else; friendship, and the kinship of a herd.

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Word Count :: 1070
Muse :: Fairly well!
Notes :: Y’all can have as much fun as you like with her, I hope you enjoy! Anyone can respond, but Falls or Edge preferably if you'd like her to join your herd!




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It would have been heavily naïve to say that I had not been expecting to meet anyone along this path, but not entirely inaccurate. I had not expected to meet another soul for some time, and this Ilios fellow was quite a surprise. His visage was quite a sight to behold. His noble features held a gentle smile and a calm nature, but it was his colouring that I found most unique. His silver coat gleamed like a sheer veil over a buckskin pattern, but this is not what I found to be of interest, for it was the ivy that wound it’s way up his pillars that caught my attention. Their coloration was as natural as could be, or nearly so, as if an artist had plucked the leaves and wound the vines around his sturdy trunks just earlier. His face held this same marking, flowing about his vibrant orbs, small moons set into a nest of ivy leaves. His mane was cropped short, dark in hue fading to lightly frosted tips, as if he had been dusted with snow, and his tail mirrored this image. His wings were also elaborate, silver and teal, tucked neatly against his sides, and a black spiral made its home between his forelock.  Overall, he stood almost as tall as I, but he carried himself with a dignity that far surpassed any sort of physical stature.  His greeting was polite, charming, and I found myself smiling in his company, having found someone so pleasant. Or perhaps the more accurate statement would be to say he had found me.

However, the creature that came with him, Isabella, was a bit of a shock to me. I had never seen any such animal. She was like a miniature deer, delicate and graceful, but her hind legs were formed into that of a predatory bird, and her shoulders helped carry wings which held feathers of a bright azure nature which followed her form towards long pinions at her tail. Nonetheless, she was an enticing creature, agile and poised. I was a bit taken aback by her curiosity in coming straight forward, and I took a step back, allowing her room to make herself at home. Though, before I could get a good look and reply to the stallion and his Isabella, another equine emerged from the cover of the trees.

The mare, Lyanna she had called herself, was also of delicate nature, with fine Arabian features present in her gentle face. She bore inky hues and white markings that mirrored some of my own, namely four stockings and a proud blaze. Her mane was quite the affair, a stark white fading into teal tips, as if she had dipped herself into the clearest sky and came away with its colour, and her tail mimicked this ombre hue. Her eyes matched the gentle nature she portrayed with startling blue pools. Her wings were folded neatly against her sides, though I could see that they faded into three colours, starting with the inky hue of her coat, to milk white, and finally that same sky hue as her tresses.  She was taller than Ilios, though not more than a hairsbreadth.

It was a bit much to take in, and after looking between the two winged equines, as well as the curious creature in front of me, I gave a careful bow, tipping my cranium slightly so as not to harm Isabella.   “Thank you,” I said, straightening up and pelt shuddering from the excitement of meeting new faces. “It is a pleasure and an honour to make both of your acquaintance. I am Epiphany, though if you find it easier for your tongue, Pip will do just fine.” A smile spread across my silken maw as a gentle breeze stirred the air around us, bringing with it the sound of the leaves rustling in the trees and the woodland companions that made this stretch of forest their home. “Are there other herds like yours, or do these lands belong to the Dragon’s Throat and the World’s Edge alone?” I looked between the two equines, inviting either one of them to respond, my audits flicking forward to indicate my full attention towards the conversation.

I made note to ask Ilios about Isabella, whether that be with this meeting or if we perhaps met again. She was such a strange creature, but I was very delighted with her form. I had seen a few strange things in my time with my herd, though nothing nearly as breathtaking as her. Granted, my herd had almost exclusively belonged to equines, and very little magic was ever mentioned, as many of the personalities that made my herd their home thought such things trivial and childish, used only for mild entertainment and nothing more. They had no concept of what to do with anything stronger than what they considered parlor tricks. Even the concept of having a unicorn among them they deemed too extreme, as evidenced by my ostracized status from even a young filly. To be among creatures who accepted such beautiful and rare creatures seemed to me quite a blessing, even if these beings were not considered rare by Helovian standards. It was still a comfort to me to see that I would be accepted, even beloved for my antlers, not in spite of or if they were to be ignored (which is not easily done, as they are quite the extravagant show). A heavy weight felt lifted from my heart, and my bodice felt physically lighter for it, and it was as if my lungs could breathe fully for the first time. I had not realized what being in such company had done for me, and the sudden ease with which I felt in this place was startling. I had never felt so immediately comfortable before in my life. That’s not to say that I am well traveled, for I fear I am not, but the serenity that overcame me with this realization was a welcome one. I was sure that I would enjoy Helovia, and I was eager to make my home here.

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Word Count :: 1022
Muse :: Solid
Notes :: Eee! I’ve always wanted to thread with Ilios, he’s such a freaking babe x=x  So thank you for both of you responding! I’m very excited to see where this will go.

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