Desreal: Mockingbird

Naturally, Riven was fiercely independent dent. Aquila was not around so often anymore, thus giving her very young daughter the opportunity to grow and develop her senses. Perhaps such abandonment (if that is what it can be called) was frowned upon by most, but Riven thought nothing of it and loved her mother regardless. She had not seen her father recently either and so there was truly no one to influence the manner of her dreamy thoughts, or reprimand for her daily wanderings. This day was no different.

Quietly the young filly crossed the creek at its thinnest point in the far depths of Andarin’s basin. She had discovered this particular place a week or so before during another adventure, and had promised herself the chance to return and cross into the vast unknown world beyond. The water was terribly cold as it soaked through the fine white hair across her pastern and at first she would only test its strength one delicate dip at a time. Her breath caught in her throat as she descended and immediately she was surprised at the deepness. Looking upon the crystal blue water for the first time, the gently shifting current had seemed playfully inviting and shallow. Now though Riven’s small young body sunk the further out she waded, and when she reached the middle, the water lapped silently against her shivering elbows.

She crossed as quickly as her chilled body could manage and with scattering hooves, stumbled up the opposite embankment. Nervousness and doubt fell like a cloak about her shoulders as she peered beyond the boarders of the only home she knew. It was peculiar to think that there was such division in the world, but she was an obedient child and before her mother had strayed, Riven was warned to not cross the creek- that was where Andarin ended. From a foal’s perspective, that meant that obviously the world ended at the creek, or ceased to exist beyond, but Riven had seen the thick forest on the other side, and now she brazenly stepped forward.

She could not have known that Desreal lay in the centre of the dense undergrowth and prehistoric looking trees. But adrenaline fuelled excitement forced her on and on, and she did not consider that she mightn’t remember the way back. Cold loneliness crept into her heart, but it was no strange feeling and she easily ignored it. For now her focus lay ahead. There was no path, no trail to betray the mysteries that potentially lingered but a footstep away.

Riven continued for what seemed to her like months, never turning or letting her thoughts return to the Wolves. Suddenly though, the trees began to thin, and the shrubs and litter that she had been climbing through the entire journey began to clear. She did not slow, instead peering with each of her thoroughly alert senses to find trails that were now weaving around her, and tremors which laced the air; that were voices, and movements of horses all around. She paused, and every inch of her tiny frame began to tingle with uncertainty. After scrupulous examination, Riven decided that she was still quite alone and that the voices she could so faintly hear were distant. She started slowly forward again, being quite careful now to place her hooves on springy tussocks of grass- for they would surely hide all trace of her passing through. It was instinct after all to protect her identity in this terrifying new world.

The young foal came to a place finally where the trees finished, and she hesitated, lingering carefully well within the fringe of the forest. With wise absorbing eyes she peered out from beneath her cover and to her astonishment she saw dozens of horses- all which she had never before seen. Her initial reaction was overwhelming shyness, but as she dithered in place, shuffling her tiny round hooves through the cool moist soil she resumed the dwindling courage. Subtly she emerged, and progressed quietly through the glade until she came across a mare with a coat as glistening-white as the snow capping Andarin’s high peaks.

“Hello.” She greeted the stranger with a broad, polite grin. “How are you today?” Of course, such a common greeting was to be expected for her mother had insisted manners and courtesy upon her from birth.

Gecko & Aquila
wish upon a star...
child | water III | nowhere