PERSEPHONE

Persephone was glad to see the smile return to Evren’s lips, a little of the brightness in her eyes returning. Her own lips curled in response, thankful that she had not been forcefully refused. It would have been torture to remain in the Forest, alone with her thoughts, wondering how things had gone without her support.

“You’re welcome,” Persephone replied simply, as if the action was no more than offering to take a turn around the meadow with her or something else as trivial.

She met Evren’s pace easily, following alongside her as her companion began to head back towards the edge of the Forest, more confidence in her step now, it seemed. At her words, Persephone turned her head to look at Evren with a curious glance. The question was fair enough, and Persephone quite agreed that they didn’t now each other well enough, but as for how to answer it… that was rather more complicated.

For once, she didn’t quite know where to begin.

“Alright then,” she began, contemplating her words. “I suppose I can try. I came here… oh, a few years ago now, after leaving my family’s herd on the mainland. I wanted to be on my own for a while, to take control of my life – I claimed the Forest not long after I arrived here. I wanted to take charge of something, to provide stability for myself and anyone who needed it, in a way.”

She paused a moment, a disgruntled expression passing briefly across her face as memories flitted through her mind.

“I was perhaps a little too welcoming, though. I took someone in here who betrayed me – things haven’t been quite the same since, and lately I seem to fall at every hurdle that comes between me and the Forest. It has been… frustrating – but I still find myself with no desire to leave it behind.”

Persephone managed a small smile at that. Things had not been good for the Forest lately, but it had become her home sooner than any other place in this world. She had nothing to go back to anyway, even if she wanted to.

She turned her gaze back to her companion.

“You had family here, right? Were you born on the islands?” she asked gently, slightly wary of stirring up too much of the emotion from the brief story Evren had given earlier.

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh