PERSEPHONE

Winter had come to Luthien. The ground had hardened underfoot, the short grass damp in the morning sun with melting frost, and many of the trees had shed their leaves, their branches reaching up like long, skeletal fingers against the clear blue sky. Persephone blinked the sun out of her eyes and turned her gaze to the shadows of the trees.

Now that her winter coat had grown in, she did not mind the cold, crisp winter days. Shelter from the wind was ample here in the Forest, and otherwise the change in temperature was bracing and almost revitalising. It kept the blood pumping as she traced her familiar patrol around the perimeter of the territory.

Her mind, on the other hand, was occupied with other thoughts. Ironclad had challenged her only recently for her daughter, and it had served as a harsh reminder of how quickly her children had grown. Sabran was a young woman now, and Eadaz was not far behind her. Persephone’s urge to protect them was as strong as ever, but she was not sure how long she would be able to.

In the meantime, as she dwelled on what she could do to keep them safe and teach them to do the same for themselves, she could only focus on guarding the Forest and looking after those within it.

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh