The size of the Edge, and the fact that one could wander through it for days and not see another soul suited Amaris. She was a mare who enjoyed her own company, or that of only her companion, for a lot of the time. The exception to this was her cousin, whom she always longed to see more of but inevitably rarely got to spend a leisurely afternoon with.

The dragonmare and her dragon kept mostly to a quiet grove within the Edge, a cluster of trees and rocks, sheltered from prying eyes and accessible most easily upon wings. It was a spot her parents had 'nested', a spot she cherished in her memories, and that she was grateful had not been occupied by another over the passage of time.

Owl, came the dry observation from Dramyrth, who yawned broadly as he saw the avian fly past. But Hemlock did not just fly past; he hesitated, lingered, until Amaris shifted her attention to him with a curious, questioning gaze. A small frown creased her 'brow, as she very clearly recalled the owls distaste for dragons - the only other time he had ever come near either Dramyrth or Amaris, Alysanne had been in the throes of a difficult birth.

Has something happened? she questioned immediately, and spread her wings to prepare to rise and follow the owl to wherever it was she was needed.

Not that I'll be much help, she thought with a note of annoyance, unless they need something roasted or sliced, I'm about as useful as a thorn in one's side.

Not true, huffed Dramyrth in rebuttal, quietly, as he followed his beloved and the owl to where the queens wandered. Amaris landed some strides away and, upon seeing there was no immediately danger or urgency, settled her wings back down and shook her mane a bit before approaching.

"My ladies," she greeted warmly, nodding to them with a smile upon her lips, though a tone of concern still coloured her actions. "I hope there is nothing untoward going on? I know of Hemlock's distaste for dragons, is all, I know he would not summon me unless it was important..?"

Amaris

so i listen to the    wind for an answer

Lyanna was glad to see the new life in the Edge. It still felt wrong to Lyanna that she was so useless at their birth’s though, that she had no magic to help should something go wrong. Not that magic could solve everything, but having it there had always been a comfort, a help. Now though, she was left to rely on herbs, and she had no means to carry collections around with her. She’d have to figure out a way to get a bag made so she could keep some things handy. Perhaps too, somewhere in the middle of being Queen, she could find two more with healing magic of their own. She wanted to complete her quest, but finding those horses was like finding a needle in a haystack.

It’s still early in the day when Alysanne finds her. They have an important task today, though while they are walking, Lyanna figures it’ll be a good time for catchup. She greets her friend with a warm smile, laughing slightly as Aly’s words. “I do love the privacy the forest affords, but sometimes it’s inconvenient.” Unlike Aly or many of the others in the Edge, Lyanna does not have a second pair of to help her find anyone. “Before we find Amaris though, I have news.” Not that she cared if Amaris heard the news. After all, the dragonmare had been there at the time, but rather, she just didn’t want to deter from their purpose in finding the mare in the first place.

“Yael was able to translate Kaos’ altar. The words and phrases translated to Peace, Power, Forever, and Kaos will Save.” She trails off at that, the words lingering between them. She wants to ask her friend how Zoeya is, wants to gush over the beautiful girl and giggle as they walk through the cool but beautiful Orangemoon afternoon. Instead though, she must talk of Kaos, must worry about an entire herd, must be a Queen.

Soon though, Amaris finds them with the aid of Hemlock, and Lyanna turns her attention to the dragonmare, trying not to wince at the “my ladies.” She had to get used to that, had to get used to being slightly separate, no matter how much she didn’t want to be. There was some value in it, despite how much she chafed against the title and its variations. “It is important,” Lyanna says, a playful grin spreading on her face, giving Aly a knowing glance, having a little fun with it all, “but not untoward. You were impressive, to say the least, during Zoeya’s birth. So much so I felt rather useless. We were rather hoping to talk to you about this seemingly hidden talent you have.” Her words grow more serious as she talks, because this was important. They needed a healer, a Amaris appeared to have an aptitude for it, even if it wasn’t her chosen path. Lyanna nods slightly at Aly, leaving her counterpart to continue.

lyanna

Amaris looked between the mares, trying to discern their expressions, their poker faces, their bluffs. Was it some kind of joke? Was she being reprimanded for breaking a rule she did not know of? Was she being summoned here, to a private meeting with the queens of her home only to be asked to leave it?

Anxiety played the questions on repeat in her mind, a dull thrum, a bland and numbing recording. You've done something horrendously wrong; you've brought shame to the herd; you're a disgrace, a monster; you must leave… Dramyrth, alarmed by this, dropped immediately to her withers and began playing with her mane in his dextrous clawed paws. The movement, his presence, both physical and upon her very soul, soothed her, settled her unshackled thoughts, brought her back to the present.

Lyanna spoke first, toying with the dragonmare's emotions once more, though once she belatedly realises the jest, she relaxed again. Though Amaris was slightly confused by the mention of a hidden talent, she softened slightly, nodding as if to indicate her readiness for more information to be divulged to her from Alysanne as Lyanna shifted the responsibility of further words to the painted queen.

"It is an honour to earn his esteem," Amaris commented softly about Hemlock and his apparent 'fondness' for her, genuinely pleased by this more than anything else. To earn the owl's regard was something she honestly treasured, for being half dragon herself, she always thought it would mean he might avoid her, and that in turn might lead Alysanne to avoid her - she was well aware of the influences that bondmates could have on their counterparts' feelings.

As she listened raptly to the rest of their plans, their requests, she went through a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions.

Surprise, that they might consider her suitable for a ranked position, was her initial response. Confusion, as she tried to understand their logic, to discern their way of thinking that let them to believe this to be a suitable resolution. Fear, for what if she accepted this, and made a mockery of herself, of the healers? What if she was unwelcomed by her rankmates, shunned, turned away, for being a lowly philosopher then seemingly promoted to a position above them?

Healer, she thought curiously, tasting the word, repeating it to herself. She had held a rank before, she had risen to the next tier of command before, and the responsibility had scared her at the time - but that was many years ago now, in a past life where the Throat was her home. Amaris was a different mare now, a fully grown adult, with a bondmate, with magic, with more of an idea of a purpose than before - could that purpose now be put into focussing on healing?

"I…" she began, before shaking her head lightly as if to resettle the tumultuous thoughts within. "Thank you," she finally managed, and with a smile upon her maw, she found her words. "I want nothing more than to help our herd, to ensure it remains strong and wealthy. I appreciate you asking this of me, and I want to accept, only.."

She couldn't deny her fear of knowing the others in this rank class by face value only, and the idea of being thrust into the middle of them holding a rank magic and authority they did not unsettled her.

"I need lessons, a great many of them, no doubt. I need to know who it is I might be sharing this rank class with, and whether they will support my joining their ranks or resent it. I know the shift in ranks not so long ago took two healers to other areas-" she paused, with a kind, knowing smile to Lyanna, "- and I'd be lying if I didn't admit I thought it unsettling to have so many in the Wise one ranks." She had raised it with Isopia, but the conversation was lost on the mists, a midnight discussion that was more a fleeting idea, a lost comment, than anything else.

Amaris

so i listen to the    wind for an answer

Change never brought peace, and if nothing else, Kaos was brought change. No, Kaos was change incarnate, an alternative to the status quo of Helovia. Whatever his plans, it certainly would not begin with peace, a fact that’s already been demonstrated. The Edge lost Nyx in that first battle, and though Lyanna had never known the woman, that didn’t mean she was unaware of the Edge’s lost. Kaos had warned them though, hadn’t hurt those that didn’t try to fight. Her mind and heart both are torn, uncertain that Kaos is bad, curious what plans he has though she feels like that thought alone must be sacrilege. Their own Goddess had told them to use their heads and not their hearts, and if she used her head, she did not find herself against or for Kaos. She simply didn’t know enough to make that judgment.

Alysanne’s reply is brief, giving Lyanna little indication of what the other Queen thinks, though the tone of her voice implies more. If Lyanna knows her friend at all, she doubts the other mare is quite as forgiving as Lyanna on this topic, which seemed like a much better stance for a Queen of a herd. In the end, Lyanna’s only choice would be to protect the herd, whatever that meant. She can only hope that choice is easy, but she knows how unlikely that is. Choices are never easy.

Lyanna listens as the other mare’s speak, watching Amaris’ reaction. Part of Lyanna doesn’t want to ask her to follow a path that is not the one set by her heart, but Alysanne has offered that she can stay in both if she wishes. That, at least, is something. In a perfect world, they would have enough healers and warriors that having a herd full of philosophers would be acceptable, but even Amaris knows that in the real world, this fact is unsettling. There is value in history and stories, without a doubt, but they needed healers. A history lesson cannot save a life once the damage has already been done.

“Lessons we can do. That is easy, and I think you might find you need less than you expect.” she says warmly to Amaris, nodding between herself and Alysanne. After all, they had both served as Moon Doctor previously, and Lyanna rather recently. They could impart knowledge of herbs, of how it felt to call on the magic, though no one had taught Lyanna that part either. The magic was something you could figure out easily enough. “As for the ranks you will be joining, they are woefully empty. A young nurse is the only one I’ve seen around lately. I don’t see a reason why anyone would bedruge you the rank.”

Tilney was gone, and she’d seen little of Sacre. Kaida had been at the birth of Raeden’s children, and the girl was capable but young, and perhaps not overly motivated. Amaris was active, calm, and in control. She was everything a Moon Doctor ought to be. Lyanna stops there, letting Aly fill in the other gaps, hoping it would be enough to convince Amaris that she’s more than qualified to sit the roll of Moon Doctor.

lyanna