the firestarters always get the burns
and the good guys never get the girl
It's fall again; life goes on. Tähti should be back from Nerine soon, Llowell is nearing an age where he could survive on his own (if he could defend himself that is), and the white mare stares at her reflection, no idea what to do.
It’s been a year since she saw Arty, and their last meeting didn’t go as she had hoped and expected. Now she has a son she doesn't know what to do with, a friend she’d like to know better but doesn’t dare tell him about it, so today, she just had to get out.
The river is a common land, not without it’s own dangers. Still, the gurgling of the water is a different sound than the lapping of lake water against pebbled shores, and she could use the change.
She’s been here a while, though. She is getting hungry, despite her first idea to meditate here instead of at home where she would be distracted. Now, her nose catches the scent of an apple tree nearby, and sooner rather than later, she follows it. The fruit has a bit of a weird taste, but, after downing the first one, she notices no weird changes in her stomach other than the knowledge that she is indeed hungry - when did she last eat? - No, she can take these. They’re just a bit old is all.
One bite leads to another, until she’s losing count. Probably around 10, and it should be enough to sate her appetite. She walks back to the shoreline, enters the water for a drink. She feels a little dazed but, with all that has been happening to her, no-one could blame her. She laps up the water, but when she lifts her head, it’s too quickly, and dizziness threatens to overcome her. She’d probably better get out.
Doing so proves to take more effort than usual. When she slips, she giggles suddenly - in the back of her mind she knows that she is acting weird, but oh, she doesn’t care. Hey look, she has a weird alien green spot on her right haunch - never noticed that before, but it will probably pass. Nothing to worry about!
When she finally reaches the shore, she is laughing all by herself. What an idiot she is! Hah, Svedka should have seen it. Hi-la-ri-ous. She wonders if Kagerus and Solace have ever moved so stupidly, and when she imagines her queens doing what she just did, swaying instead of walking, she burst into a hysterical laugh again. God, that is SO amusing!