PERSEPHONE

A call split the quiet hum of the Forest’s heartbeat, the wind that whistled through the leaves of the evergreens. Persephone’s ears pricked, and she lifted her head from the water, glinting droplets falling from her wet lips as she turned her gaze downstream in the direction of the noise.

It had been some time since the Forest had a visitor.

Cautious yet intrigued, Persephone made her way along the bank that marked the border between her land and Shamwari’s. The water trickled pleasantly alongside her as she walked briskly towards the edge of the Forest.

As she drew closer a vaguely familiar scent pricked at her nostrils. Before she could place its owner, however, the figure came into view – a bay and white-splashed mare standing there before her. Persephone stopped in her tracks.

“Evren?”

It was not like Persephone to sound surprised, but for once she did. There had been many strange visitors to this forest, but the desert woman was not one she had expected to see. She had been gone for some time now, and Persephone did not bear her any ill-will for her disappearance, but she had somewhat lost hope of seeing her again.

The surprise was a welcome one, however.

Evren appeared to have grown some since she had last seen her – she had been so young the first time they had met, the time seemed to have put a little more wisdom in her eyes and the way she carried herself that only came with experience. It was not only the time that was different, however, but also a hint of worry that Persephone seemed to detect in Evren’s body language.

How serendipitous it seemed that they had shared the stream together just moments earlier. Persephone did not tend to believe in fate much, but if she did she might have thought that it had been fate that brought them together for some reason that day.

With a small shake of her head, Persephone composed herself, and a small smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. Despite her concern, she couldn’t help but be pleased to see a friendly, familiar face again.

“What are you doing here? Are you alright?” She closed the gap between them with a few swift strides, her dark eyes wide as she surveyed her companion. “It’s so good to see you again.”

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh