Things were different now, for the scarred mare. She was no longer a Glazier, no longer called the World’s Edge her home, no longer was she forcing herself to hide in the shadows. Perhaps it was this difference that caused her to appear out in the open, where the sun could beat its warming rays down onto her white fur. Perhaps it was the difference that allowed her to no longer feel the need to hide her face. As far as she was concerned, from the things she had bared witness to, that her face was more than likely least of the worries that Glasgow needed to care about. Colts and fillies alike had faced much more difficult and frightening ventures, to be frightened of her harrowed mutilated face.

She felt brave, now. She didn’t have to hide behind trees and pillars, and it was this new feeling in her chest that brought her up to the place where she had considered giving up. Plunging herself off the cliff to the depths below in a most certain death. But if she had done so, she wouldn’t have experienced all the things she had. She wouldn’t have gotten to see Maude just after her birth, she wouldn’t have gotten to see the wonders of having magic that allowed her to craft, she wouldn’t have gotten to see the feeling of what it was to truly love someone – and then have your heart shattered in return. Some experiences were better than others – and now, she knew that she wanted to head toward the mountains to start another chapter of experiences.

It’s just that she forgot the way.

And so she ended up here, the place where she could’ve changed her entire future, following up that narrow winding path to the sunlight and burning fog above. And when she reached the summit, a small glance around from glassy (yet still bright) eyes, spotting a lone figure among the silent swaying grasses. His head was angled toward the sky, as he appeared to be searching for something. Quietly, she approached with her pale scarred body and blood stained feet, though where one of the two horns sat upon her brow, broken and cracked, had been replaced with a small piece of ivory to its full glory. Though the broken piece still remained braided in her tail.

“Hello!” She called out, eerily cheerful compared to her typical demeanor. “I’m Glasgow. I hope I’m not intruding.” She admitted, offering him a small smile placed upon heavily mutilated, red lips. While kindness glimmered in her eyes, she hoped that the brave feeling in her chest would remain through this conversation. Otherwise, she’d shy away yet again and return to the shadows. She needed to be strong and brave to prove to herself that she was a woman that had lived through it all and still survived.

"Talk."

Perhaps her presence had surprised the man. Despite the smiles she tried to offer, Glasgow continued to slightly shy away in what appeared to be an awkward display of a smile though her ears flickered nervously and she continued to blankly look around him and not directly at him while he directed her with his small smile. Though when he said she didn’t interrupt, her gaze managed to find him again briefly. His voice was warm and something unlike she was really used to as of late, only having herself to really talk to. So when he dipped his head, she returned the gesture careful to not let the gilded piece that sat on her broken horn slip off and fall aimlessly to the ground.

He continued to speak and while he did so, the scarred mare glanced up toward the sky in curiosity. Did he expect to see anyone there? In all her time in Helovia she hadn’t witnessed someone in the sky. It seemed more like an event that would’ve happened in the land she originally hailed from, but it was extremely rare; a once in your lifetime event. When she turned to look back upon him as he introduced himself she spotted a genuine grin and relief began to spread its wings in her anxious mind. “It’s nice to meet you Cass. I’m Glasgow, but I go by Glas.” She tried to offer a half laugh at the way their nicknames sounded together.

Though she continued to mull over the idea of a call even more, and even though he directed the question to her she offered him a small smile paired with a shrug. “I don’t think I am. But I suppose there’s always surprises in everything.” She admitted, turning her gaze back to him. “I was actually on my way to the Basin, but I forgot the way.” An embarrassed chuckle escaped her lips as she shook her head. “Old age, you know.” She jested, offering him a wink with her pupiless gaze.

"Talk."

Glasgow was trying to be different – to act like a different person than the previous shelled version of her was. She didn’t want to sit back and wait in the shadows, to watch the world spin on without her, completely unphased if she was a part of it or not. So she was thankful when he remarked on her name, speaking of travels. Pale ears perked to him curiously as a smile placed itself more comfortably along her lips – infectious from his own. “Thank you.” She replied quietly, returning to her quiet ways, if for only a moment.

The conversation drifted, however, as she mentioned word of her traveling toward the Basin. “Helovia is tricky, and confusing. I’ve been here for quite a while now, and I still get turned around.” A small laugh escaped her lips, a foreign but pleasant feeling as she did so. And when he winked in return, her smile grew broader, pressing against the raised scars lining up her lips. Then, as he spoke of being a disciple in the Basin, her eyes grew wider as excitement bloomed in her chest. “Oh, that would be wonderful!” She remarked. “I was a Glazier in the Edge for many seasons. I created the Greenhouse for the Basin – and I enjoyed my time there. I felt it only fitting that I went there when the Edge wasn’t…” She paused, her head swiveling away from him as he began to walk. She wanted to say “when the Edge wasn’t comfortable” but that simply wouldn’t do. “What I was looking for anymore.” She finally decided, moving her blood stained legs to catch up.

“No, it’s not urgent. I’d just like to get there at some point.” A small laugh escaped as she turned her head toward Cassius, her glassy gaze wondering what he might have in mind. “Am I interrupting any plans of yours?” She suddenly questioned, ears wavering in uncertainty.

"Talk."

The scarred mare offered a small laugh to his comment. She felt the same, when it came to visiting other places. That was probably part of the reason why she rarely left the Edge. Though after a few times of wandering, she managed to find her way back there, but everywhere else still remained a mystery to her. She nodded in agreement, as if to say “me too” before he continued on speaking. As he said he was impressed by her being a Glazier at one point, she felt a genuine smile bloom on her lips, her ease growing larger as she began to relax in Cassius’ company. Though when the stallion asked her why she chose the Basin, she paused to think of what to say.

After a few moments, she looked up to him briefly with a shy smile. “The Edge just wasn’t for me, anymore. It had grown so large and full of so many families and children running around. And with a face like mine I try to stay away from the small ones.” She noted, glancing away from him with her glassy gaze, focusing on the entrance to the Heavenly Fields ahead. “But when I was at the Basin, I met Deimos and Lena, and they were very kind. It seems like a place I could fit into, you know?” She tilted her head slightly, still away from looking at him as they continued to walk.

Then, as she asked him if she had interrupted anything, he turned to her and answered. This kind of information, she could definitely offer. “Oh! Yes, of course.” Glasgow wasn’t sure where to start – to start from her beginnings or her adventures out in the land? Her encounters with the Gods and their tasks set upon them? There was so much to talk about, and yet she was born to do it. She was born as a diplomat – to go and share the word of their gods and goddesses and allow those that pledged themselves to join their cause. “It’s hard to figure out where to start, but when I first came to Helovia I was greeted by a woman named Ophelia and a man named Thranduil. Thranduil was from the Basin at that time, Ophelia in turn was from the Edge. And so I accompanied her to the Edge, though when I got there, there was a large glass wall that had been placed for protection from something. Before I arrived in Helovia it had been destroyed, and for many seasons I spent time cleaning up the borders of the glass. It was the King of the Edge’s – Tembovu the Elephant King if you don’t know him – main priority to protect the borders, and so he called upon our Goddess. The Edge is watched over by the Goddess of the Moon – though there are four gods in Helovia. I’m unsure entirely of which pertain to which herd, but the Goddess seems quite strict and to the point.” She paused, gathering some air and allowing the words to make their mark.

Her gaze danced to Cassius, happy to be speaking of something other than her scars or ambitions. “There’s now giant spikes that line the border, and a giant metal gate at the entrance.” She shrugged her pale shoulders briefly. “And then Kaos came, most recently. Disguised as a creature named Kisamoa, supposedly sent by the Gods to clean up the Marshes. After all the work everyone had done, he revealed who he truly was.” A small shiver ran down her spine at the memory. “Though, he is powerful. He gifted me magic, before we found out he was Kaos. It… was almost like a bad memory.” She tried to laugh it off, but it did boil beneath her skin. Shaking her head briefly, she glanced back over to Cassius. “Is there anything you have a question on more pinpointed? My mind is a bit all over the place for trying to think of what’s interesting or not to you.” Another half laugh escaped.

"Talk."

Glasgow nodded to Cassius as he remarked on the subject of her leaving the Edge, though she remained silent, unwilling to delve deeper into the true meaning of why she left – of how she slept with a man that had a family, and how she couldn’t remain there knowing what had occurred when their faces seemed to be around every corner. So she felt her lips form back into that comfortable line of carrying no expression as she nodded once more to his comment on Deimos and Lena. Perhaps it was better he didn’t mention the passing of Deimos. Knowing Glasgow, she’d probably try to blame herself for the events that transpired beyond her control. She was simply too used to death following her wherever she went, to ever truly feel normal again.

As she spoke her tales, her gaze danced toward the grey stag as he offered her more information. A smile placed itself against her lips once again and she nodded happily. “That’s good to know, thank you.” She noted, making a reminder to herself of which gods reigned where. “I haven’t really met any of them, to be honest. I’ve mostly just watched, never talked. Though I did create glass with the gift from the Goddess, so perhaps that’s one way of communicating.” She added in with humor sparkling in her glazed eyes.

Though when Kaos became the subject, she could feel the air shifting. She, too, was uncomfortable with the god, but in her state of age and uselessness, she wasn’t sure what kind of things she could do about it. She’d do her best to supply others with the things they needed instead of trying to fight a god again. She’d learned her lesson many years ago. And when Cassius turned to her and began to speak, she listened, almost missing the fact they’d begun stepping past the gates that marked the Heavenly Fields. Then, he mentions the Rift Gods, and an idea began to sprout in her head. Could it be that he was a part of all of that all along? She nodded slightly, uncertainty lacing its way in her bones with this new information. “I wasn’t ever really a part of the Rift, though word spread about them quickly. Terrible gods ruling diseased lands, careless in their own people. The four gods created a rift to allow the riftians to pass through, though none came without trouble. With each land that appeared, a god accompanied it. Helovia fought them off, though not without consequences. Many were plagued with illnesses from the events, though as far as I know they were able to be healed.” Half of her words were merely thought aloud, seeing as Glasgow hadn’t spent too much time actively thinking of such dark events. She’d known the difficulties with Gods and the terror they could reign down upon those that disagreed with them – and that’s why she refused to be a part of the events until after they’d calmed down, when she’d appear to offer them a home in the Edge.

"Talk."