Rivka does not resist as the pale woman guides her away from the edge of the sharp cliff face. Truthfully, it felt comforting to even feel the mare’s touch. Vanya had never been overly affectionate and despite Rivka’s desires, the seal bay mare always seemed to manage to keep herself just beyond the starlit girl’s reach. The warmth of the stranger’s touch soothes the ache in her heart and silently she gazes up into the pale mare’s bright blue eyes. ’Name em to me.’ Perhaps a wiser girl might have taken into consideration the less than stellar reputation of her sire or that fact that so many had referred to him as a wolf, of which she is still not sure she completely understands. Nonetheless, she replies. ”Rougaru. He used to rule Paradise until he…. left.” she murmurs, somehow finding relief and comfort in hearing the name leave her lips. ”Someone else came and took his place…” she continues, dropping her head ever so slightly in shame. ”I was afraid.” The truth was painful. She had been afraid. Afraid of the stranger and afraid of what his presence meant for Paradise. Afraid of his scent as it slowly began to overpower the memory left behind in her sire’s wake. Afraid of the change that seemed to steal away everything she had ever known and replaced it with a replica that was altogether different and yet the same.

’Drogon is not in de place called Paradise?....’ the lilt of her voice is hard to follow and yet the name is familiar to her. Drogon. ”My brother?” she asks, glancing up at the red stained woman with renewed interest. ”No he left long before Da did.” she pauses for a long silent moment. ”Why do you ask? Do…Do you know him?” hope once again begins to build itself around her heart. Maybe if she knew Drogon she might also know where to find him. Maybe he would be able to tell her where mother and father went.Maybe he would have answers.

Despite the longing ache in her heart, the stranger offers comfort. The sound of her lilted words draw Rivka’s gaze as she blinks away the tears that gather in the corners of her eyes. It made sense. It’s not like she had any alternatives. Adrift in her own thoughts she silently nods her head as her new guardian offers to show her a place to eat and drink and rest. Despite the weight of her worries, the distant gnawing of hunger begins to grow in strength, reminding her that she had not eaten in days. A heavy sigh escapes her as she leans into the mare’s solid frame, pressing her patchwork shoulder against the alabaster hip of the stranger as together they turn and the dense jungle begins to engulf them. Charybdis she calls herself, the name as foreign and exotic as the accent of her voice. Timidly, the young black and white stargazer tests the syllables on her own tongue. ”Carydis….Charrbis…Charybdis.” she repeats once, twice three times until finally it sounds as close to similar as she can. Bright eyes glance up at her companion for reassurance as a smile curves across her lips. ”My name is Rivka. I’m sorry. I should have mentioned that sooner.” she murmurs, blinking sheepishly from behind the thick veil of her dark lashes.