» In the End

R I X E N Following the Matron to the Pinnacle, I could not help but wonder how much in the Rift had really changed. Sure, it seemed more alive in some places than before, but overall this world retained its feeling of danger and mystery around every corner. Certainly there was far more work to be done, for a few trips here or there could not possibly heal the entire land in every way it needed to be healed. For the next few hours, though, I decided to set aside my doubts and try to enjoy myself. When we reached the party, as the Matron referred to it, all signs of disease seemed to be gone. There was glitter everywhere; dancing, and music filled the air without effort, like the waves filling holes in beach sand as the sound rushed in between every horse in the clearing. Some reacted to the pleasant beat, while others continued in chatter. Either way the melody always spoke to its listeners in some manner. A lively tempo could lift them, elevate the spirit, or move them to dance, whilst a slow one might relax the mood. Without the notes filling the air every horse was an island, and with it they all enjoyed the same tidal flows and the beginnings of togetherness felt warm.  The glitter still clung to my hide, shimmering every time light touched it. I'd been to celebrations before, in my homeland. I couldn't say that this lived up to their grandeur, but it did fill me with nostalgia, a reminder of home and of my family before the world had gone so wrong. Now, the Rift seemed to be a place of unrestrained joy. The glitter lit up the warm day, a riot of color to rival any fairytale's paradise. It was a time to celebrate what we had done to help the Rift, despite hardly noticing the impact of our collective efforts on the land. It was there somewhere. It had to be. "Talk." they heard me singing and they told me to stop quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock

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