When Cerestes arrived on the shores of Salem (though she did not know yet that’s what the desert island was called), she felt like this must have been the place her goddess was sending her. It was so like home that she felt both relieved and sad the further in she walked. The heat and the sun were a comfort, as was the endless stretch of sand, interesting canyon formations, desert vegetation and even the animals themselves. If only the smells had been the same, Cerestes was certain she could cut straight down the middle of the island and find the cavern that would lead her down to the hidden entrance of her goddess’s temple, where Cerestes had lived since she was a young filly.
But no, unfortunately that wasn’t the case.
Certainly though, this is where her goddess meant for her to be. Cerestes had been wandering away from home for a very long time – almost a year – before she was lucky enough to discover this chain of islands. After swimming from one to the next and being met with wildly different topography, she was certain there must be magic here. If she could find where the magic in this world was kept, she could ask the keepers to communicate with her goddess. Her goddess would be so pleased that Cerestes never lost hope, always believed, and kept seeking her that she would bring her back home and never subject her to something this strange ever again.
The rich brown cream speckled white mare finally drew her elegant figure to a halt and frowned, turning her dished face slowly as she looked around her and wondered what her next step was. Should she comb the island, looking for more evidence of magic? Should she finally be brave enough to approach another horse again and speak to them about it?
(When Cerestes had first woken up in a strange meadow a year ago and been very scared and confused, the few horses she’d approached had been less than kind once she began asking about things involving magic.)
She supposed the only way to find anything out here would be to speak with the locals who’s smells laid thick and at home among the sands. Cerestes drew herself up and reminded herself that as a disciple of the Goddess Sulna, she should be very brave and very proud. The goddess was surely watching (she always was) and she would be very displeased if Cerestes showed cowardice.
Starting forward, Cerestes intended on not stopping until she came across a mare. She had never spoken with a stallion and the large number of masculine scents on these islands (and the few peeks of stallions she’d stolen from a distance) were quite new to her. The land she wandered now, while it carried some male scents, it seemed the main overpowering one was female, which made Cerestes feel more at ease. While she did not fear stallions, she knew she was not supposed to interact with any, should she cross their path. It would be easier not to cross their path if she was looking somewhere they wouldn’t be, right?
Wrong.
Cerestes came to a quick stop as she looked down the hill she’d walked to the top of and saw a stallion of gleaming gold and deep blacks just down the slope. The wind blew across her back, pulling her pale hair off her neck, and carried her smell down to him. While Cerestes could turn and bolt, she told herself there was no reason to. It would be scary as well if he chased her down and Cerestes was not interested in exerting energy by being pursued. Reminding herself to be brave (as well as not be too distracted by what a beautiful, rich gold his coat was) Cerestes lifted her dished head and watched him, ears perked, curious what he would do once he caught her scent and realized she was standing nearby.
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