‘Snap,’ I turn attention back toward murky timbers, ears perked and senses fixed upon the disturbance. My last visit had produced company that I wouldn’t have otherwise met, but it also proved rumors of the rising dead to be false. Thus far. Shadows and green brown filtered light turned this landscape into something foreign, almost alien. Bright eyes peered into the shark shadows beyond the water, a faint outline of a creature formed.

A shadow was lurking, standing stark still and watching me with an intensity that could lead one to believe that something was worth hiding. I could almost feel his gaze upon this body, “Hello?” I say, curious as to whom this stranger was. Wings remained half unfurled; they refused to shut just on the side chance that a ghoul did emerge from said thicket.

“Friends have no reason to linger in shadow, reveal yourself.”

A corner jutted from frozen company, a horn? Lids narrowed in remembrance of the creature that so dared to harm my beloved boy. Was this the blood bay that so boldly struck out against the weak and defenseless, only to flee like a whipped cur the moment someone of worth showed up? Tail lashed against my flanks with sharp flicks, the muscles along shoulders and limbs quivered with the hateful games this mind would keep playing. Cera wasn’t the only one effected by recent events, growing thoughts of revenge were keeping me up at night; whereas nightmares and daymares followed him wherever he went like a plague.

If the misty stranger had fled, not a single muscle would have twitched in pursuit. As seconds trickled silently by, I began to rethink upon the idea of trickery from light and shadow. My eyes thought they saw movement, perhaps the flick of a dark tail among the filtered pale water? Or perhaps I was just going crazy, and this landscape amplified it. What’s to say that this creature wasn’t a figment of an overactive imagination, born from the wings of constant narrowed thinking over the past few days……

Questions fluttered in, “was I finally falling so deep within the pools of despise that my brain has begun to fantasize about ghosts that resembled the creature I so sought?”

My frown only deepened when Fina flew into sight through the mossy covered trees, curiosity and question coming in her wake through our bond. She was rightly wondering what had so feverously captured my attention and held it for this long.

Sharp avian talons lashed themselves across my spine, her slender body settled there with carnivorous eyes pointed toward the direction I stared. Beak held aloft, and what could be a songlike voice instead rasped out a low hiss.

The ghoul finally seemed to finish contemplating life and death. He came out, drifting from the thicket with dark eyes peering at my phoenix, than turning to judge me. My first instinct was relief, this wasn’t D’art and I certainly hadn’t gone mad.

Features lessened their previous severity and smoothed out, my brows still wrinkled together though; mostly out of wonderance as to who this lad was. I could see him shrink from me, though I had done nothing to provoke such actions. When he spoke, it wasn’t the tone that threw me, but his obvious hesitation, "I didn't mean to be bad," this lad shrank like fearful child.

Finding shreds of compassion for this tree colored stallion, I closed my wings to ease possible anxiety and put on a forced smile, “Well met friend…..you needn’t be fearful of me.” It never once crossed mind that this body would look intimidating; my collar seemed innocent enough, and nobody would be able to tell what magical properties lay within--without seeing the power firsthand

“What is your name?” I ask softly.

The question was harmless enough, plus it offered room for conversation. My gaze followed each sliding movement….taking note that he didn’t shy away from the murky waters. Now that I thought about it, his body seemed to be covered in pallet of this forsaken marsh. Was this land his permanent residence?

Best to ask one question at a time.

He watches me with the wide wary eyes of a child, and I grow more uncomfortable by each passing second. It was strange to be peered at with such fear, and it left me wondering, “what had this soul been through to find terror in a mere presence?” My appearance couldn’t be the fault, and certainly not tone or words. What then? Pondering these things made feet want to pace, but to do so would likely scare away the very thing I was trying to sooth.

Fighting to remain motionless, my knees lock and the urge passes—yet spine still quivers and feathers grow uncomfortable from being pressed against side so tightly…but after a moment I quiet them as well. Fina stares on with great interest… which was a miracle honestly--for she rarely took pleasure in anything beyond her belly.

"Do you promise not to hurt me?"

Gaze narrows with confusion ringing like a bell, but lips move in soft response, “I wouldn’t dare shed blood, without just cause,” and this was the truth. To consider one an honorable warrior was to walk a path separate from foolish brawl. But I wasn’t just a simple brainless beast of muscle, no, my mind worked and spun like any other poet or gentle man.

His shrinking nature whelps pity and surprising compassion, quietly I add, “You have my promise as a warrior—I will not harm you.” He looks older than me, face with more lines and body with more scars. Yet, the mind appears shattered.

Who was at fault for the fate of this pitiful creature? My first and only question finds simply answer, "Slaiter." Memory stores this new name and face away in a timely fashion while I dip skull a little and respond, “I am Midas, and this bird is Fina.” Again I am struck by his appearance, and the ease of maneuverability in this foul place. Thinking returns to an unsaid question and wonders if perhaps the elder stallion called these lands home, and I was actually the intruder?

Feeling a strong desire to explain my actions and reasons for being here I say honestly, “This territory provides excellent hunting grounds for my companion here…” Pausing my attention flickers to a silent Fina, who was still quietly judging our skittish company, “Do you reside here permanently Slaiter?” Lord only knew where these questions were coming from—why my mind suddenly desired to learn more about this strange beast that clung to the death this swamp seemed to reek of?