PERSEPHONE

Persephone smiled to herself as she wandered beneath the familiar shadows of the Forest’s leafy canopy. It was spring, and even the gentle breeze of Luthien felt warm and refreshing compared to the frosty chill of Tinuvel that she had just left behind. But, although she loved that natural beauty of her home dearly, Persephone was more concerned with her family within it than the surroundings.

When she had left, a few of the mares had been pregnant, and now foaling season was upon them – would there be gangly, previous new-borns waiting to greet her, or had she returned in time to make the births? It was both exciting and anxiety-inducing to think about. The herd had grown so much, and these new lives would only make it all the more special, but also her problems with enemies all the more pressing.

Warsaw was a menace that needed to be countered, and this weighed heavily on Persephone’s mind. However, even such a dire matter could wait until she had checked in on her herd-mates. She looked forward to seeing Evren in particular – although she did not doubt that her dependable friend had done her utmost to protect the herd in their absence, Persephone was keen to receive and update on everything she had missed regardless.

However, it seemed that her problems did not stop at Warsaw. She turned her back on one to watch the other, and felt a nip at her heels each time. They were surrounding her, and closing in too fast.

As soon as she smelt Cullen’s scent on the breeze, Persephone knew that her return would not be a peaceful one. Moments later, she heard the sounds of a scuffle through the trees nearby, and leapt into action towards the commotion.

She was not surprised, but nonetheless impressed to find Evren already on the scene, apparently the one who had made much of the noise that had alerted Persephone. She had caught the end of her words as she neared. Her dark eyes took a moment to survey the scene: Macabre stood over her new-born, no more than hours after birth, looking fiercely protective as any new mother should. Cullen stood before them, but Evren had put herself between them, her body language ferocious.

It stirred something in Persephone, some deep admiration.

“You heard the lady,” Persephone said simply, coming to stand beside Evren, her voice cold and collected.

She didn’t know how Cullen had tracked Macabre down exactly, but it seemed no coincidence that he had come to attempt to take her prisoner once again. Persephone remembered that time in the Lagoon well, and she had no intention of letting anyone under her watch suffer that fate again.

She gave a quick glance over her shoulder to check on Macabre, doing her best to offer her a reassuring glance, and shot Evren a look of fierce comradery before returning her focus to Cullen. She narrowed her gaze.

“She isn’t your prisoner anymore, Cullen.”

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh