Falls

“I’m fine Mom. I want to stay.”


Himari’s voice was soft as she whispered those words to Hiyori on the beach of Salem. The pull back to the Crossing was too strong, too irresistible for Hiyori to ignore any longer despite how foolish she knew it to be to go back. They had been safe in the Badlands. Maybe knowing Himari would continue to be safe was the only reason she was able to hug her daughter for what hopefully wouldn’t be the last time before making the swim back to the Crossing. Still, it didn’t stop the nightmares from following. Hiyori knew she needed to go back to Salem, but the night Khyber had found her nestled in the Falls stopped her from returning. He had been freed from the Peak, and although they didn’t share many words, they had shared other things. Things that resulted in the filly that was now playing nearby.


Even now, seasons later, and a new baby to take care of; Hiyori couldn’t help but still worry about her other two daughters. Izumi; where ever Khyber had taken her, and if the Badlands had continued to keep Himari safe as it had when she was there. If I could just see them Hiyori thought, but green eyes resting on the palomino filly, she knew she couldn’t. She would just have to continue to carry that worry and pray to whatever Gods might be listening that her daughters were living a life far greater than her own pathetic one.


Lowering her head briefly from her constant supervision and watch, Hiyori began to snatch at the grass to try and fill her belly before moving them again. Not wanting to linger in any particular place in case someone that wasn’t supposed to find them did.