PERSEPHONE

There was a chill in the air that morning, and the ground had been hard when Persephone had awoken, although it had softened some now. The Prairie was only across the river, of course, but she wanted to visit Shamwari before the frost of winter truly set in, especially since she had no previous experience by which to judge the severity of the season that was creeping over them.

And so she was making a final trip around her borders before she prepared to cross the river and seek out her neighbour. She had heard troubling things about him from Orkaan during her recent visit, and wanted to get to the truth about the story on both sides – and to find out more about his future intentions.

It was as she passed through the thinner trees near the edge of her home, however, that she caught sight of the palomino stranger stumbling to the ground. The scent told Persephone the visitor was a mare, but she likely would have gone to them regardless – no troublemaker showed up and collapsed in their target territory.

A small nicker escaped her nostrils to ensure that she did not startle the mare as she approached. As she drew nearer she could see that the mare was wet, fresh from a swim it seemed, and therefore presumably not a resident since she had washed up here and was unknown to Persephone. The mare did not look injured, but Persephone could see that she was not young, and her exhaustion was clear.

Persephone lowered her head as she approached, her greeting non-threatening as she paused in front of her, trying not to come close enough to crowd her.

“Are you alright?” she asked, her dark eyes concerned.

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh