PERSEPHONE

The boy offered a small smile, but remained quiet and withdrawn. Persephone wished it might have been different, but she couldn’t blame him – she was still very much a stranger to this child, and he and his mother had clearly been going through some things. She returned her attention to Evren’s eager gaze, since it seemed clear that Han did not want it.

Persephone fell silent and observant once more, leaving the pair to catch up for a few moments. Han confirmed that the Desert was deserted, as Persephone had feared. She hadn’t heard anything from Salem in such a long time, it seemed like the whole place had been empty since Evren and Valve disappeared.

The pair’s plans seemed uncertain, and she was somewhat surprised when Evren asked her what she thought. Did she really value Persephone’s opinion that much? Persephone had part of her answer ready immediately.

“I’m not going anywhere, unless you want me to.”

The rest of her answer took a moment. She fell silent for a few seconds, contemplative. She was reminded of a conversation she had had not that long ago with another young mare. The context felt different this time, but the message felt very much the same. It stirred a part of her memory and her heart.

“I won’t tell you what to do – this was never my home, this was never my family, it wouldn’t be my place. But I think that sometimes we have to make new homes for ourselves, even if we don’t want to. Does this place feel like home, still?”

She looked to Evren, and glanced at Han also, trying to judge their reactions. She tried to be careful and gentle in her words. She was quiet for a few moments, before she added one more thing.

“If it doesn’t… well, you have a place in the Forest as long as you need it.”

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh