The sounds of the storm were unnerving and ear popping loud. The wind lashed out at her skin, all the while trying to tear it off. Her skin tingled and burned underneath the pelting rain that stung her eyes and filled her nostrils with a wet smell.

When will this storm end? Her mind was frantic, but her thoughts all the same. It was mixture of problems that she had yet to fix, answers unknown. It slipped from her mind, the fact that the strange girl who was with Arcus was missing, and in this storm was vulnerable to the harsh weather.

Therefore, her lack of care for one less horse made it easier for her to focus on the task ahead. Finding shelter, perhaps sleeping, and then finally discussing everything that had been going on. Surprisingly, she had managed to avoid talking to either men but since she'd already said farewell to Dexter she needed to introduce herself to Arcus as well.

The shift in the conversation was sudden, startling almost. It was the opposite of her usual conversations with Dexter, which consisted of changing the subject from something so serious to something like the weather. It was frustrating so this was new to her. He seemed to read her contorted and pained expression so well, it was scary really.

Giving him a pointed look, she began moving on but making sure she was heard. "I've been trying to sort it out but things have been just so difficult these days." Difficult was an understatement to the physical and mental hardships she pushed herself through the past weeks. She was relentless in damaging her broken soul with guilt, anger, and self-disdain.

So it was new to have someone else try and care for her. She had always been on her own, even when she was in Dexter's company. He, simply put, owned her and temporarily had her heart as well. So knowing that Arcus cared changed a lot and made her lean in and listen to each and every beautiful word that came from his mouth.

"Scissors is a scary word indeed. It has the effect of cutting through the air, wouldn't you say? " And there she was, back to her geeky and realistic ways. That part of her she couldn't let go. She wouldn't even change that for Dexter, or even Arcus. It was her personality and it made her the clumsy, reckless creature she was today.

As if her thoughts were proving a point, once she stepped into the foxhole, she immediately tripped and stumbled the rest of the way. Coming to a wavering halt, she did a quick inspection of her body and limbs to make sure no damage had been done. Once she was sure there was no misplaced bones or blood, she turned towards the opening of the hole, her eyes finding Arcus'.

"I think we all stumble along the way, but don't we all reach safety in the end?" Those words rolled freely off her tongue and it surprised her at how intelligent she sounded. It was almost as if she was a genius trapped inside an imbeciles body. Though that moment and realization only lasted so long, for her legs had been shaking from the fall that she stumbled again. Luckily she found her footing quicker than she had before and was stable once more.


SEE I'VE COME TO BURN YOUR KINGDOM DOWN

b l e u
mare / 3 years old / of the ridge