[Private] A Light in the Dark

Endless void; inky black that stretched infinitely; that was her world. Just a touch, the sensation of skin against rough rock, set it ablaze. A glimpse into the light, as though in that moment she might open her eyes and see colour for the first time. Its texture rubbed against her coat, setting fire to every hair, every fiber. She could feel its edges push back as she moved, rejecting her very existence. Pulling away, the brightness faded, returning to nothingness. The pressure of her hooves against cold dirt dimmed in comparison to everything else around her. Limp wings dragged along the ground, dejected and without purpose. She would flap them if she could, fly away if she dared; but there was nowhere for her to go. Above there were only more rocks, pointing down at her head, her back, waiting to skewer her should she try. The mare snorted in defiance, though she continued forward, cautiously, wary of the walls that seemed ever-present; they contained her, as was the Gods' will. As was Argus' will. As was her own.

How long had she been walking for? There was no way to know; the only timepiece she had was her legs. When she tired, she rested; when she hungered, she ate. It was simple. Archaic. Perfect. Though admittedly she had tired of water-grass lately; salted or pickled, it all went down the same. Slowly. The thought of consuming any more almost caused her to gag; perhaps she would add food to her list of things to do.

First and foremost however, was the Kirins.

When news of Ignacio's favored found her she was far from Nariah; quite near Aquore actually, thus the overpowering amount of water-grass churning in her bloodstream. She'd meant to return immediately to find them, but the unfamiliar caves were no more navigable than the road to enlightenment. She could be heading towards Onea for all she knew, or Eithne; or (Gods’ forbid) she'd simply been running about in circles.

She shivered at the thought; being lost was one thing, but being lost in Sirith meant isolation until your last. Then again, she mused, smiling to herself, that might not be so bad.

Though she couldn’t see the ground beneath her hooves, Kiyoshi’s steps were sure; at least, so much as they could be. In familiar surroundings she walked confidently as any other horse; her sensitivity allowed her to avoid most obstacles, though busy streets were always a challenge. Her movements were light, poised and attentive; she had to be quick on her feet, always prepared for the worst. That was why she liked the tunnels away from big cities; she didn’t have to worry about hurting someone. She could hear when things moved, listen to water droplets or bugs tittering away. She could forge a path by touch alone, left to her thoughts.

It was lonesome at times, but Hireath’s deities were company enough. Her journey across Sirith had given her an excess of time in which to consider them all; the pagan god, Digend had surprisingly crossed her mind once or twice. Argus, the savior of her people, was kind and good, of that she was certain. He was more peaceable than some of his counterpart surely; Ignacio especially was considered to be violent and vengeful by followers of Argus, though she wasn’t convinced. A god praised by so many overworlders could not be so cruel and one-dimensional. Alya, Cascade and Kaia were treated more fairly in Briemman folklore; mothers of the admired Pegasi, the exotic Hippocampi, and the regal Unicorn, they were respected by many for good reason. Kaia’s progeny in particular intertwined with their own royalty, as was evident in their High King’s resplendent horn. Or so she was told, at any rate. For all she knew he might be a sickly colt with a crest of coal.

Occupied in the trappings of her thoughts, the Monk was rather startled when she felt the walls beginning to fall away; she’d found larger cave it seemed, and the unmistakable drip of water drew her across the widened space to inspect its source. Her nose met with cool liquid as it splashed against the delicate hairs on her muzzle; hazarding a taste, she found the flavour to her liking, and started to drink. The mare relaxed as the chill rushed through her, but she loosened up a bit too much and soon her body was lowering itself painfully into the dirt. Maybe she’d pushed herself too hard; it was time to rest.