i. the Prairie stands as a symbol of peace and prosperity among the islands ii. anyone is welcome to live here so long as they do not bring harm to the Prairie or any of it's residents iii. adventure and exploration is not only allowed, but encouraged! residents are asked to use their better judgement and not travel to places that could bring them harm iv. the head of the prairie has final say in all prairie matters. the secondary and third positions are not able to be challenged for and are selected by the head v. the guardians take on a more active role in the prairie; they must protect the inhabitants of the prairie and go on patrols of the prairie borderlines and shore. they can welcome strangers to the prairie and invite anyone to live here, though they must inform one of the leaders of any newcomers or visitors
find my nest of salt Posted on June 20, 2024 at 11:12:56 PM by Daire
everything is my fault. . . I'll take the blame
The very proximity of the stallion to her cast an intimate cloud around them. Air from his lungs passed over the mare's dark face, softly moving the dark hairs of her forelock against her starred brow. The sensation of his skin against her own is a balm. The quiet lull of the Prairie went on around them, as if they were frozen in time. For a moment, she wished they were. Then, at least, Daire might be free from the torment of the present.
Zevulun pulled away. Of course, they couldn't truly stay in that moment. Nothing would stop time from moving forward. Time would never turn back either. She would never get back this time she could have been spending with her daughter. Another fluttering movement in her barrel distracted her, drawing Dair's gaze to Zevulun's pale face. His eyes were on her swollen belly, where their child lay waiting. Their child. A bitter sadness pricked at her. This should have been a happy time for them: yet another thing stolen.
"This one isn’t making things any easier, hm?” He had asked this in a hushed voice, and Daire gently shook her head. A sad smile was on her dark lips. "Through no fault of their own," she murmured. A great rolling sensation made the brindled mare brace herself. A few moments later, with the babe now comfortable in her womb, Daire offers her mate a weary smile. "Just eager to be out, I think," she tried to joke, though it fell flat. "Not that I blame them."
New pain swept through Daire. She had given birth to Vervain here in the Prairie. It had seemed like only yesterday that she and Lir had first come to Luthien's shores. She regretted how it had all happened that day when she'd seen Riesling for the first time in years. Another deep breath sucked into her lungs. The dark mare leaned in this time, nestling into the reachable parts of the cream stallion beyond her girth. How many children would fate and ill-made decisions cost her? And what had it cost Zevulun?
Trying to blink away the pricking tears, Daire attempted a thin smile to assure him somehow that she was alright. He would know she wasn't, of course, but she tried anyway. Her thoughts turned back to Vervain once more. "Zevulun," the mare began carefully, trying not to let her voice shake, "where could she be?" Daire's voice dissolved into a strangled whisper. The tears returned, but the mare ignored them. "Is there anywhere that hasn't been searched?" She was trying so hard not to break down again. It had happened so often since her daughter's disappearance.