the world is burning

Själ The only good thing about having lived as a hermit for the past - gods, how long had it been? Not yet a year, surely, and yet the mare was positive that it had been some time since she had stood amongst her follow equines - however long was that she had not been as devastated by Kaos' attacks. She had not seen anyone she cared deeply for destroyed, and so her heart remained carefully hopeful. Her once-dear friend and childhood crush had not been among those she had seen killed (though, to be fair, she had not seen Zékle run into the Portal, either). Neither had she witnessed Nymeria blown to bits. Even the old stallion she'd only just met in the Heart Caves seemed to have either died before the attack or survived it, for his had not been among the bodies that had disintegrated before her eyes. Still, for all that she was not hurt by the many deaths, she was furious about the waste of it all. Stallions, mares, even foals, blown away as though they were no more than leaves in a breeze, never having gotten to live their life. It made her sick. Ansgar, too, was ill, though it was difficult for the mare to discern why. Their bond had been strange of late, with only bits and pieces of Ansgar's near-perfect mind speech making its way into Själ's thoughts. Every now and then, the mare might catch a word, or an emotion, or an image - but it was always disjointed, and it never made any sense. Physically, both companion and mistress were as fine as they could be in a strange world filled with weird plants and creatures that may or may not poison them at any given time. Mentally? Well... Själ was hanging on. And at least Ansgar was staying close. Perhaps they would turn out all right, in the end. After Själ's entrance to the Rift, the pair had wandered. Even if she wanted to search for any of her one-time friends, it would have been impossible to find them in a world she didn't know. Maybe if she wandered, she could at least ask questions, see if anyone knew of a common area. If nothing else, the horses of Helovia would be safer in a group, even if they had once been enemies. Surely they could all come together at a time like this? Even she would contribute... if she could find anyone to help. Eventually, they had come to an ocean. Ansgar, wanting to stretch her wings, had pointed out an island just a short way out to sea. Part of the mare had been wary - what if the oceans here had a bigger bite than the ones at home? - but after a brief pause, she had stepped carefully into the waves and begun to swim. She'd have to dry her leather out well, but otherwise, she made it to the island with little issue. Shortly after shaking the excess water from her coat, Ansgar rejoined her, wanting to stay close as the pair explored. "Talk." -Ansgar.-

@Mauja, maybe?