hold on to me; you're all I have. | circinae

[Circinae]

oh, my love, don't forsake me. take what the water gave me ..

They all had secrets, these strange creatures of their world. Half-horse, half-magic, half of something else. Even she, so outwardly bright and open with him, had her own nightmares to tuck away for other times. But as he passes her by to brush the tip of his nose against her shoulder, Circinae is quite content with not knowing everything about her winged companion. One mystery at a time - that was more than enough for her. The rest would unravel on its own, with trust, and no bridge was built in the span of a day.

Though desert-raised her ability to swim is instinctual, nearly effortless, and there has always been something about the water that draws her to its depths. Perhaps the scarcity of it when she was a child entombed within her heart a reverent respect and appreciation for its life-giving power, or maybe she simply had come to love the way it felt against her skin, even now, as it lapped with brisk tongue against her emerald legs. Either way it envelops her like a kindred lover, casting only a dark reflection beside her as she wades confidently past Canaan and his tepid gaze.

Behind her, the amaranthine purple-blue of her tail spreads like a bride’s veil and soon, even her matching mane is coiling atop the restless waters while her body sinks into the depths. Below her, she beats a rhythmic churn, turning in inviting circles for his pleasure. It’s cold, fed by a stream that no doubt credits its source from the mother of all mountains, and the icy prick of the pool soon numbs her muscles. “I would go anywhere with you.” She calls to him, swinging around as if to make her way back to the comfort of his side, but a gentle tug stops her.

With bright confusion she looks back, mouth agape in surprise as the waters beneath her grow ever more restless; a boiling, agitated circle that traps her in its grasps and sends her spiraling. Desperately, uselessly, she beats against the current, fear seizing her in its claw for a moment as Circinae turns back to Canaan with white-blue eyes. “What’s happening?!” She screams.

It’s all she can muster before the whirlpool devours her whole, closing atop her in the blink of an eye. When the waters settle, there is nothing left of the mare Canaan had brought with him.

Circinae