PERSEPHONE

Persephone acknowledged Aurora’s greeting and her explanation with a smile and grateful nod of her head, before turning her attention back to the strangers as they introduced themselves. It was the female who spoke – Kikka, she called herself, and the stallion was Trell. She announced that they were siblings, which explained their spookily similar appearances.

“Nice to meet you both,” she replied simply, bobbing her head briefly in greeting. Aurora had already spoken her name, but she introduced herself anyway in case they didn’t catch it. “I am Persephone.”

Before she could continue, however, the stallion began to speak then. She tilted her head slightly, ears pricked forwards, as she listened with interest to his words. They appeared to be wanderers, judging by his explanation, and she assumed that they intended to stay that way, given he only mentioned staying for the wintertime.

Persephone also noted that he did not seem to have immediately identified her as the leader of the herd. She wondered vaguely whether he came from one of those lands where only stallions ruled their herds, or whether he simply chose not to make any assumptions either way.

Aurora answered while Persephone evaluated her guests, making pleasant conversation. She was intrigued to hear the pair’s answer to Aurora’s question, but first she would put their query at rest.

“This is my herd,” she explained simply, her dark gaze flicking between the two strangers. “You are both welcome to stay as long as you like, providing you don’t have any intentions of causing trouble.”

She offered them a smile, although the condition wasn’t a joke.

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh