» every broken promise

I'm no hero and I'm not made of stone

Dark water rose steadily up, swallowing the river banks inch by inch. Erthë, lying unconscious on the ground so close to the surge was helpless to save herself from the rising tide. Gradually she was claimed by the river; the pale hooves, her long legs, the rounded curves of her body, then - finally - even her head disappeared.

Gone.

Did no one notice her broken form swallowed up by the darkness? Were they all so busy scrambling to save their own lives that no one had a moment to spare for the one who could no longer run or fly herself to safety? The little mare was oblivious to the indifference of the horses she had always lovingly embraced as family, unaware of their callous ignorance as she faded from the world, claimed by the gateway Kaos so thoughtlessly had opened. If she had been aware, perhaps she would have been offended by their lack of interest in her fate. After all, had she not devoted her time and effort, invested so much emotion and energy into their pains and grief ever since they all came to this accursed place? Was she not fighting Kaos for their sake, so that the monster that robbed them all of their homeland and their loved ones would never be able to commit such atrocity again?

But Erthë was not aware of what was happening. She merely sank deep into the darkness of the river, down and down until she couldn't possibly be in the Rift anymore, until the layers of the world parted and the darkness gave way to a white nothingness, a state of bliss and peace she had never known.

And there, in that place where shadow and light became the same thing and anger, grief, hatred no longer meant anything, Kisamoa's spell of unconsciousness broke, and Erthë awoke.

Was this death? If it was, then life seemed far more terrible, with its constant struggle, its pain and ceaseless conflict. If it was death, then perhaps she would just stay here, and rest. It had been such a long time since she felt at ease, such a very, very long time... She couldn't even recall when the knot in her chest had begun to form, only knew it was gone by the absence of worry and pain this place - if it was a place, and not a state of mind, an idea, a concept - instilled upon her.

For what seemed like years - minutes, seconds, hours perhaps - Erthë simply relished the stillness, with not a care for anything else.

Then, slowly, she became aware of a soft humming against her skin. A gentle vibration, just on the border between a sensation and a sound. The bow, she realized, and the wolf's teeth; they were singing, calling, pulling her towards something, someone, and without thinking she obeyed and began to walk, not knowing where she was going or why.

It didn't really matter. She was at peace, and thinking more clearly than she ever had.

Right or wrong, I can hardly tell
I'm on the wrong side of heaven and the righteous side of hell

Image Credit

@Kiada @Kisamoa  

Erthë was swallowed up by the river and is being pulled by her Rift God objects towards Kis and Kiada. I intend to give them up to either of them, if you're willing to accept. :)