Tumbling down

You gotta have the patience and believe you're gonna make it
Gotta hold on

Her frozen heart warmed with sympathy for the girl, the most intense feeling she had experienced since she awoke alone on the forest floor. It was equaled only by the regret that she could not do more to comfort the child. Both these emotions surprised her, enough to make her wonder whether the shock perhaps was beginning to loosen its grip on her.

Ignorant of, or perhaps just ignoring her sons baleful glares at her, Erthë gave Otem a sad little smile and nodded. "Yes... I am sorry" she said, and let her wings settle back down against the sides. "It is my nature..." There was nothing she could do about the cold, unfortunately. Her children had somehow managed to survive within her womb - perhaps due to some magic of their own, or thanks to the life-giving energies of Helovia - and they did not seem overly bothered by it. But they too suffered when her control over the Rift's energies faltered, and more than once they had wrestled themselves free with blisters and frost glittering within their coats.

It was unfortunate, but Erthë had no way to turn the chill off. No more than she could make it stop raining, or take away the pain of loss this filly was feeling.

"Could you tell me their names?" she asked gently. "It might be that I know of them... "

Sensing the curious gaze of the colt Erthë shot him a glance and winked, actually smiling a little at his astonished expression.

"I traveled more often than not throughout Helovia. I know a good many names that would make your jaw drop, Van."

It had been something to brag about then. Now, the thought of those legendary brave only caused her grief.

I know you're tired of surviving but you gotta keep on trying
Hold on!