Drip, drip, drip. The steady rhythm of raindrops against damp earth and leaves nearly lulled Tethys back to sleep where she stood beneath the quivering canopy of a willow tree. The Crossing, once touched by the crisp kiss of winter, had begun its thaw, spring right around the corner. Above her the sky slowly turned from an inky black to muted grey, thick clouds blotting out the rising sun. The chill in the air nipped at her skin but thankfully it was nothing like the bitter bite she had experienced only weeks ago.
She wished she were home, where it was warm year-round and the sun always seemed to shine. Where birds of every color sang enchanting melodies from the trees and fresh fruit hung ripe from the vines, ready for the taking. Unaccustomed to more temperate climates, Tethys had been ill-prepared for how harshly and swiftly winter had claimed the land. It brought with it great gusts of wind, slick patches of ice, and near-impassable drifts of snow. Never had she missed home more than she did when she was braced against the frigid breeze, feeling like each of her bones were rattling uncontrollably inside her shaking body.
More than home she missed her mother and father and, surprisingly, her sister. The memory of them had kept her warm through the winter, though just barely. Any consolation she might have received had been dampened by the tragedy that hung heavy over their now-broken family. When she closed her eyes to sleep images of a raging fire crackled to life inside her mind and sapped the warmth from her body. She could see an impenetrable blanket of smoke around her, filling her lungs with each gasping breath of too-hot air, could hear the screams of her friends and family around her in a sickening cacophony.
It was only a small comfort to know, or at least imagine, that Eos was still alive and well. For all Tethys knew, she was dead somewhere on these islands - and perhaps a year ago she would have masochistically delighted at the thought of her
better than her sibling being gone. But now the thought itself felt like enough to rend her heart in two. Funny how tragedy could sometimes make one see clearer and cherish things once thought unimportant.
Blessedly, as of late, sleep had come more willingly to her. Now as she idled in the Commons listening to the distant chatter of the crows in the treetops, she felt the fog of unconsciousness slowly rolling over her mind. But a sudden, sharp kick to her side herked her awake, an agitated grunt passing from between whiskered lips. The badger-faced mare gritted her teeth against the feeling of tiny hooves digging at her insides, quietly cursing the child and willing it to settle with a gentle murmur. It didn't listen, of course, and gave another little kick as if to prove it couldn't be bossed about so easily.
In an effort to get the child to settle, Tethys moved from her spot beneath the willow and began picking her way slowly across the clearing. The meadow was quiet, a thin layer of fog blanketing the grass and swirling about her legs as she moved. A cursory glance around revealed no lurking faces or approaching bodies - no sign of the stallion who'd talked his way into her bed all those months ago. Ever so carefully she made her way towards one of the small streams that cut through the clearing. What was once a simple task now felt exhausting thanks to the little demon inhabiting her womb, making her feel as if she might become unbalanced and tip over at any given moment.
'Screw this,' she thought with a huff as she at last reached the stream and lowered her lips to its surface,
'I'm never having another kid.'
two ☼ lusitano x saddlebred ☼ sooty silver dapple dunskin minimal sabino ☼ fifteen hands ☼ wanderer half-sister to eos ☼ played by pippa