What Is An Ocean But A Multitude Of Drops

The apprehension Gryffen feels is something Astri unknowingly transmits onto others she comes in contact with. They feel … separate. She can’t really blame her skin (she’s seen horses that would give these others bed-wetting nightmares) but she can attribute it to her nature. There is nothing incredibly appealing about her. True, she’s a looker. All mares have something about them that draw the interested eye, especially during breeding season. But she’s in no way remarkable. She has no hidden power, no lust, no charm or allure. Astri is void of these feelings. She always has been, and so far as she knows it, she always will be.

Gryffen’s appearance piques her curiosity, and her festive head rises from the ground so she can pin him with her bi-colored eyes. “Took you long enough.” she replies, and he’s clever enough to know what she’s insinuating. Gryffen’s strange preoccupation with Astri was shared by the green girl; she wanted his attention as long as he could force himself to give it to her. The darkest side of him - that’s what draws her in. She wants to feel that hunger, that endless need for destruction. She wants to have purpose. His eyes, vibrant, turn to her offspring.

Astri only smirks. Poor Gryffen had no idea how much potential her odd-looking son had. True, it was a common, instinctual thing for males to be wary of other males, even foals. But her son was different. Sure. They all thought that. But Astri knows it. She follows the white stallions gaze and remembers her sons birth. At first, she thought he had rotted within her - turned a strange green with death. But he was quick to rise, to open his eyes and bleat angrily for her attention. She remembers how at first his tail had been short, bushy, black - and then, in the blink of an eye, it had changed back to a regular foals tail.

Astri had decided to keep him after that.

“Walk with me.” She commands, turning away from her progeny. She doesn’t fear for his life without her there to watch. Kraz had more power than he knew. “You and I have plenty to catch up on.”

astri

yule x astrah

What Is An Ocean But A Multitude Of Drops

If she had known that the reason behind Gryffen’s barely concealable disgust was because she reminded him of his mother, Astri would use it against him. She would taunt him mercilessly and then accuse him of being one of those horses who have some unnatural oedipus complex. But, she doesn’t know what goes on in Gryffen’s twisted mind, so she ignores him and only smirks when he joins her pace. “Oh no.” She replies, flicking an ear in his direction passively. “I thought that was your job? Bringing whores to Straia for a pat on the head.” She chuckles for a moment, but she knows it’ll cost her.

Enough of the idle banter. “That’s besides the point.” She comments, letting the smirk slip away. It irked her to even think of asking someone for help, but she thinks that if anyone can point her in the right direction, it would be Gryffen. “I think my son is a shifter. Of what kind, I’m not sure.” She slows to a halt, eyes wandering around the silent forest while she idly contemplates the spirits of Chamber past. “He needs a mentor, someone who can instruct him and help him master his gift. I would ask you to take on that job, but you seem exceptionally busy these days.”

Her head turns, eyes boring into his red ones. “He’s a danger to himself and others until he learns control. Under the right guidance he could be great, but I can only help him so much.” She wonders, suddenly, if Gryffen is even the right one to approach with this information. He, like Astri, will do anything to get a step ahead.

astri

yule x astrah