Where the rocks lie - Lilli

[lilliana]

The months have eaten away at her.

They show themselves in the notches of her ribs. They appear on the edges of her too-thin hips. It manifests in the haunted shade of blue her eyes have taken, a sharp-edge of fear that flashes to any horse that approaches.

Lilliana keeps herself to the canyons. In the beginning, she had her eyes turned towards the North. In those early days of her captivity, she had fully expected the spotted yet cautious diplomat, Eurwen. She could see the image of armored Brazen charging the border, ready for another round of challenging Ghaul (but then where would that leave her boys? Who would keep them safe?).

The copper mare had prepared herself for a few days - Neverwhere would have no problem leaving Lilliana to her own devices. Perhaps not for a full year but the Taigan had whole-heartedly believed that her friend wouldn’t have let her sit in Pangea for a full sentence without making sure that the Diplomat was at least unharmed. Never could be many things - obstinate, unmoving, unwilling - but never intentionally unkind.

The days had passed to weeks and the only thing that came were the whispers, the rumors; the Nerinian queen had gone missing. Taiga was unrooted. It had been the first part that had nearly undone her and Lilliana had blurred lost amounts of time at the western border, begging the horizon for some word of her dappled Queen. Of her boys. Of Elaina and Brazen and Eurwen.

The chestnut mainly keeps to the canyons on the eastern side of the kingdom - where she believes herself out of the way of Draco - and rarely comes to this horizon anymore. It was safer there, away from the Pangeans. And really, with the marks that have flawed the outside of her and a visible pregnancy, when she is a prisoner, she has no desire that anyone see her.

Not now. Not like this.

When the Taigan slips from the mouth of one canyon, the mountains of Hyaline call in the distance. The home of Kagerus and Solace, once. The former home of her sole-remaining family member, Elaina. She approaches them - wondering if she might feel some comfort the larger they grew.

It’s not comfort she finds but something far, far better.

"@[Eurwen]!” the chestnut mare calls, her slow walk suddenly picking up to a brisk trot and Lilliana throws whatever diplomatic poise and protocol she might have otherwise had to the wind. When she abruptly stops in front of the Nerinian mare, Lilli (much as she had with Ghaul) cuts to the heart of the matter. "Neverwhere? Please tell me you have word of Nev. My boys? And Brazen?”

The months have eaten away at her and the wan expression that fixates on her fellow diplomat is a starving one - half-afraid, half-relieved at the sight of her.