you shouldn’t walk where the hemlock grows

Rivaini’s presence was a soothing balm to the inflammation Faolain felt beneath her skin from her feud with Rougaru. The comforting sensation of her mane being carefully tended to, each strand of hair thoughtfully put into place by the dusky lips of her companion, would certainly have put Faolain to sleep under normal circumstances. Even now, through her fading emotional turmoil, the black mare felt her eyelids begin to fall. The longer Rivaini groomed, the more empty Faolain felt, but it was not a bad feeling at all. It was as though the copper mare were pulling the restlessness and anxiety and anger right out of her, one lock of hair at a time.

You’ll have to name them, then, Rivaini said, after Faolain had roused enough to speak and break the silence.

”I’d better think of a good one,” she said with a chuckle, a myriad of names she had picked up from the Mainland suddenly darting through her mind, vying for her attention. She fell back into silence as she picked through them, certain Rivaini had not meant for her to do this immediately but wanting to sort her thoughts all the same. She had met countless faces on the Mainland, but she had heard countless stories, too, and those stood out to her more as she leaned into her Guardian’s red breast and sorted meticulously through her memories.

”The story of Hades and Persephone is my favorite,” she said after a long time of silent thought. ”I think they are powerful and misunderstood in their own ways.” This child will be misunderstood, she thought with some regret, but knew it did not need to be said aloud. Rivaini was undoubtedly aware of this fact. Hades for a boy, Persephone for a girl.

When Rivaini wrapped her neck around her, Faolain prepared for more bad news, but she still felt that empty sensation that calmed her after the harsh storm of emotions. Her dark ears swiveled as she listened to this new addition to the arrangement, and though her heart did hurt a bit more, she only sighed. It was not so bad. The black mare wanted without a doubt to be at Rivaini’s side when the time came, and while that was not necessarily impossible, she only wished it could be on Ridge soil where she and Rivaini were most comfortable. She shushed her Guardian gently, not pulling away from the comfortable embrace. ”It’s alright,” she murmured. ”I may still be able to be present when the time comes, if Rougaru would allow it. Perhaps Ailill can keep an eye on things. I think, if an alliance is closer to being sealed between the Ridge and Paradise, we may be able to ask Rougaru for his help in getting Siobhan back. I am anxious for that to happen anyway, but I would owe Ailill especially if he would guard our home so that I can be with you.” She doubted that Rougaru would complain about her joining him for the birth of his child so long as she was not there to cause trouble, and she suspected Ailill would be willing to help protect the Ridge for a day in her absence, but she did not want to count on those things. And anyway, if Rivaini’s sacrifice had truly bonded the Ridge to Paradise in alliance - even an unofficial one - they might as well see if they could get something out of it.

mare | black | 14hh | akhal-teke