Brinly
The meadow was not her usual choice, but it was where she had ended up.
She was usually more cautious in her travels, choosing more secluded paths even if it meant lengthening her journey. Anything, if it meant she wouldn’t run into anyone.
There had been a fleeting moment when she had thought maybe it could work; maybe she could be around them, maybe they could just learn to not touch her and she would be okay with it. But the more she put herself out there, the more apparent it became that she was just different. It didn’t matter if they were never burnt by her skin, because it was her tongue that she couldn’t control. It didn’t matter if they could touch her or not, she was still so subconsciously determined to drive a wedge and build a wall between herself and everyone else that the heat of her skin was just a small part of the equation.
Lost in her self-deprecating thoughts, she had followed the winding river north, towards the mountains. She did not notice that the sun was rising. She did not notice that the stars were fading, and that the hills ahead of her were glowing at the edges with the promise of the sunrise. She only feels that aching pulse of her heart, that stupid foolish heart that keeps beating and longing for something she isn’t even sure exists. Not for her, at least.
She had been purposely avoiding making eye contact with anyone in her peripheral, hoping that by doing so, they would ignore her too. This early in the morning she had not come across many, and because of this, her eyes flicker towards the swooping movements before she can help herself. Her attention is first drawn to the birds woven of grass and flowers, and for a moment, the hardness of her eyes softens with a glow of curiosity. But then, her gaze is drawn to the pale mare that appeared to be in control of them, and she can instinctively feel herself beginning to withdraw. Her eyes quickly divert, and her muscles twitch in a way that suggests she is going to continue on her way.
The war that rages inside of her heart and mind is indescribable.
There had been a time when she was just a sweet and curious young girl, who would have been delighted and fascinated by this display of magic. She would have approached the mare without hesitation, would have asked to see more, and even from here she can see a kindness in the other mare’s eyes that makes her think they could have been friends. But that girl from her past was buried away so deep that Brinly isn’t sure if she even exists anymore. She is so certain the fire in her veins must have swallowed her whole, must have burnt so thoroughly that not even ashes remained.
There was just this, just this charred and broken and angry thing, that was better off alone than trying to make any sort of connections.
“How do you do that?” She is surprised to hear herself ask, even though she has not made a motion to move closer. The words are mostly hollow, and even though the nature of them suggests she is curious, she had been careful to keep such emotion hidden away. The bay mare just watches her, unflinching and stoic, completely betraying the erratic way her pulse is jumping underneath her skin.
— burn until our lives become the embers —
@[Isilya]