<font color=gray>Live through this</font><font color=maroon><strike> lie</strike></font>

Your King Asmodeus
Your Queen ~~Nyimara~~
The Second None
The Herd Name, Name, Name		The Sub-Herd Name, Name, Name
Allies Name (Land)		Enemies Solomon (Cove)
The Rules There will be no fraternizing with enemies. If you put yourself knowingly in danger, don't expect a rescue. We are only as strong as our weakest link. See to it that you are getting stronger in some skill that is useful, whether it is battling, recruiting, charming, etc. The King and Queen have final say in all matters.

Live through this ~~lie~~
Posted on August 12, 2019 at 10:06:30 PM by S H A M WARI

Was I left behind?
Tell me, tell me I survived.

As we emerge onto the shoreline, I take a minute to breathe in the hot, dry Desert air. I can still recall the memory of my first trip here so vividly. I was a young stallion, not much older than Roheryn is now, when I foolishly toiled through the sand dunes until I almost dropped dead of heat exhaustion. I was on a quest for the Lagoon, perhaps even ordered by Ruger's father, Felony himself, which brought me to Salem for the first time. It was the kindness expressed by Orhan, the leader here at the time, that ultimately changed the course of my life. How strange such simple and seemingly miniscule interactions can transform to be something so meaningful. My gaze floats over to Roheryn now, and I think about those experiences this stallion has yet to log for himself. Perhaps this day may be one of them.

He answers my question exuberantly and I smile, brushing my muzzle against his shoulder in a sign of camaraderie before nickering to him, "Let's go."

I had explained to Roheryn that we were here to meet with Liland, a stallion who had fled Tinuvel. We needed allies if we ever expected to boost our defenses against Warsaw and his cronies, like Roagaru and Cullen. He was really our last chance. I divulged so much information to the young stallion so he understood the weight of the situation. It might be fun to explore Salem some why we were here, but there were important matters at hand, too.

Our coats are still damp, and we are early into our trek toward the oasis at the center of the Desert terrain when Liland's first resident comes into view. Her light and dark coat stands out in stark contrast to the rich orange hues of the sand and the bright blue of the cloudless sky. A prickle of familiarity washes over me as she nickers to us and moves in our direction. A shiver runs down the full length of my spine when I realize who this mare is. Larka? How could it be? After all this time?

The muscles under my sleek copper coat bunch instinctively. I allow the slender, dainty mare to approach and to touch but I do not return the affection. My eyes are transfixed on hers. She seems so light and giddy - as if nothing had ever changed between us. But in reality, I'd given her a home, and come to love her. She was carrying our child - Hexxus - as she named him, before disappearing what I assumed had meant to be forever.

My jaws clench and I look away from her for a long second, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. My whiskered nostrils flare, taking in the hash, dry heat of the air here, as I attempt to gather my thoughts. "Yes," I reply hoarsely with the flick of my red tail over my rump. "I'm glad to see you in good health, Larka. Can you say the same for our son?"

The question isn't meant to be as biting as it comes out. But the emotions of this strange and abrupt reunion have gone to my head. I was here with the intention of talking strategy, not rekindling past relationships or being on the receiving end of crushing, terrible news. Luckily Liland is quick to crest a sand dune in the distance. My eyes catch him on his approach and I whinny loudly to him, beckoning him over to us. Anything to keep the conversation between Larka and I as short as possible.

I give the mare one last worried glance before nickering to the short, stout stallion of the Desert. It was strange to see a clearly northern bred horse here among the hot dunes, but I don't blame Liland for moving his family. "It's good to see you've found a new place to call your own." I say with a gentle smile and bob of my head. "I take it your family is settling well?"

My gaze returns to Roheryn when Liland addresses him personally. I chuckle briefly under my breath at his answer, but bob my head again reassuringly. "Roheryn here is my lieutenant." I add, casting the young, pale stallion a playful smirk.

"We're here to talk business, I'm afraid." I look to Larka again now, who hovers around us. "I have news to share from my ally in the Forest."

Replies:

Let your light shine; - By LARKA August 21, 2019 at 08:33:20 AM
- We run the world - By Liland August 21, 2019 at 02:19:56 PM
  - Live through this ~~lie~~ - By S H A M WARI August 30, 2019 at 05:51:11 PM
    - The road goes ever on - By Roheryn September 11, 2019 at 10:54:53 PM
      - We run the world - By Liland September 12, 2019 at 03:53:09 PM
        
        Live through this ~~lie~~ - By S H A M WARI September 24, 2019 at 09:51:05 PM

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