The first secret

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

She looked up to see who had spoken, and flattened the ears back against the poll as she made out a dark figure in the gloom of the forest, barely more than a shadow - had it not been for the flaming red that crowned the arch of the neck. It was just a kid, and a foul-mouthed one at that; once Erthë might have been tempted into a witty retort by the biting sarcasm, but happiness had wilted and died within her and all laughter stuck to the throat like a cherry pit, swollen and ready to choke her.

"If you are not going to help, go away" she said, eyes full of irritation rather than the usual mischief. The little mare knew she was being unfriendly, but at the moment she could not bring herself to care if the kid was offended. It was just a brat after all, and thick skinned if the language was anything to go by, and there was a glowing blue blob on her back that made it impossible to extend the wings more than partway from the sides.

It made her feel suffocated, trapped, smothered and vulnerable. Helpless. None were conditions the little mare enjoyed, not ever and most certainly not in this dark, chaotic realm where most things probably wanted to eat her.

"Well?" she snapped, as she tried to shuffle a few paces towards the brat. "Help or leave? I have better things to do than to listen to snarky brats with less wit than years."

Things. Like getting rid of this glowing snot, for example.

So undignified.

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

@Valdís