When the night has come

Romani

This wasn't the first time that she had lost a home, but it was the first time that the loss had been on such a grand scale, so traumatizing, so horrendous. There was no time to linger, no time to hesitate, and although the warrior part of her heart desperately wanted to stand with their brothers and sisters to defend their home from Kaos and his madness, the desire to keep her family safe, the part of the mother, spurred Romani into action.

With their son pressed protectively between them, she and Destrier marched their little family into the unknown, hoping against all odds that they wouldn't encounter any harm along the way and that whatever lay on the otherside of where they were headed, they would reach it together.

The world that awaited them, however, was an entirely different one at that.

There were little similarities to Helovia. The forest that they found themselves in, for that's what it must be, was glowing with fauna and flora of the likes that the Haflinger had never before seen. The eerie, glowing eyes that stared unabashed at their unwelcome forms were cold, judging, as if knowing why they were there and hating them for it. Romani gave a shiver, withers twitching in anxiousness, a pit of dread growing with every step that they took further into the unknown.

"This place... How odd." 'Odd' was putting it lightly. Kasai remained at her side, the tigress giving every wisp of shadow or puff of dancing smoke a warning growl, hackles raised and tail twitching in obvious distress.

Romani turned her head, pressing her muzzle into Tristan's quivering side, smelling his fear and wishing that she could do more to soothe him. Before she could utter a word to him, however, Suli made a wretched sound atop the colt's head, snapping to attention as though she were possessed. In a fit of rage the dragon launched into the air and regarded them with a caution reserved to those of wild beasts. No form of recognition shone in her eyes, and through their mental bond, Romani could feel Kasai's panic.

'No!' The tigress bellowed, a rising tide of terror that swathed Romani's breast like a swallowing wave. 'Do not leave!'

No amount of beckoning or pleading would have any effect. Whatever had possessed the little green dragon forced her to retreat, to flee, and Romani's heart broke. No....

Silence followed Suli's departure, but it was Destrier who dared to break it. There was no missing the morose undertone to his voice, and instinctively the Haflinger reached her muzzle to brush against his, desperate to soothe his distress. Even Merlin, so much younger than either Suli or Kasai, seemed equally upset.

"We'll find her, Des," Romani swore. They had to. "We will. I promise." But even though they all surely wanted to go after the wayward Companion, they couldn't do so blindly. There was no way of knowing just what was out there, amidst the trees and darkness, and charging ahead could prove fatal.

"Kasai and I are both alright. Are you, Des? We need to figure out just where we are, and find somewhere to settle down. Maybe we should see if anyone else made it...?"

What is that quest that pulls me onward
My heart is full when you are by my side

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