More and more equines arrived, each reeking of their herds or their lack of one. If truth be told, it was rather difficult being surrounded by the familiar scent of the World's Edge, the scent that once meant home, yet knowing she no longer belonged within it's intimate folds. Huffing quietly and giving her head a shake, the ivory mare banished the bittersweet thoughts from her mind and attempted to hear what was being said around her.

To the ivory medusa's growing displeasure and budding fear, foals of all ages poured into the gathering like water into a basin - where were their parents? Where was their protection? Orithia's throat tightened at the understanding that she may not be able to keep them from harm, that youthful blood could very well stain the glimmering waters if the Sea Beast so wished. Shortened tail lashed against her hocks, the only indication of her agitation as she looked on silently while the crowd of onlookers swelled.

Suddenly, there was a great rumbling beneath the waters and Orithia felt herself move from Volterra's side, felt herself push to the front of the gathering. Ears tilted back and wings raised slightly to shield those in the front lines from whatever might have emerged from the brine, the warrioress felt her muscles tense. If the scenario had been different, if the mare and the rest emerged from the meeting unscathed, the blushed lass was sure she would laugh at herself for overreacting - for playing the Protector even when she had been stripped of all titles the moment she had left Helovia all those months ago.

Old habits died hard, she supposed.

Rose colored lips had just began to pull back from her teeth when the source of the rumbling exposed itself as a makeshift bridge. Just like it's master, the passage seemed to be made up of the ocean's extra materials - bones, boulders, old barnacles, driftwood and the like. Ears swiveling to catch the sound of the beast's words, Orithia felt her eyes narrow - what did this beast want? Pursing her lips and taking the first step toward the bridge, the lithe maiden wondered if she was mad to make the crossing, to stare into the face of what very well could be her demise.

Yet, hadn't she done that countless times before? Hadn't she laughed instead of hid?

Running her tongue over the blunted edges of her teeth, Orithia walked with careful confidence across the bridge, eyes pinned to the Sea Beast upon his sandy island. Moving toward the beast, the Pegasus stopped a healthy distance away - close enough, by her measure, to attempt to prevent the creature from lunging past her, and hopefully far enough to avoid injury if it were to lash out. Swallowing, the mare perked her ears toward the monster and gave a nod of greeting.


First week back in Helovia and she had already plunged herself into the possibility of mortal peril. A soft chuckle itched to spill from her lips; old habits really did die hard.