Off the edge of the map

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

She was on her guard. Anything else in a place like this would have been foolish. Erthë was many things; naive, ignorant, nosy and occasionally reckless but stupid... at least she refused to acknowledge the idea that it might be a trait she possessed. She had spent her young life trying to rectify many of those flaws, and still went at it even though the enthusiasm towards learning was dulled and non-existent at the moment.

At any rate, she stopped and gazed warily in the direction of the approaching figure. If it turned out to be something even remotely dangerous she would run. Turn tail and disappear, like the coward she had becom. No... no, like Kisamoa had made her by taking away her blood, her light, her hopes and dreams.

There was nothing left. And when she saw that the figure before her was Rikyn, her stance relaxed so suddenly that she almost seemed about to fall apart. Compared to the recent horrors, their disagreements seemed trivial.

The young mother did not even try to smile at his quip, and shifted uneasily as she glanced down at the flames that fell endlessly towards the damp ground, licking her shoulders with a quiet tickle of magical energy that made her shudder with longing and unease. It felt almost like the old, familiar magic, as if the Sun and the Moon were walking beside her with wings of power held protectively to shield against the darkness. Almost. But the taint of the Rift was there too, seeping into her with every breath, dribbling across her with the revolting touch of Kaos... Oh, how Erthë resented it. All of it. The darkness, the damp, the ceaseless patter of rain... it made her want to weep with longing for a place she could no longer return to, and regret for the tears she could not seem to shed.

Her tears had dried up, for no amount of crying could lessen her pain.

"The amulets... they shattered" she said, voice dispassionate though the twist of her lips expressed disgust at the memory. "The fire has been burning since... I cannot seem to put it out."

There wasn't much more to add. Instead the young mare let her gaze travel over the familiar face, absently noting the few trinkets that adorned his frame and the scars that she did not remember from the past. The trip through the Portal did not seem to have become him, for aside from the haunted and disorient look that she thought she saw in the eyes of all Helovians he appeared well.

Strong, as always. Handsome in a roguish way that rather appealed to her, and just as arrogant as the first time she had met him. Perhaps a bit more grim, and more in control of himself... Age and experience must have finally taught him to restrain that burning temper of his.

"I'm scouting the area" she told him, "and looking to see if I recognize any of the plants around here. Have you gone much farther? I would appreciate any information you might have come by... "

It was worth a try, although Erthë had little hope of actually hearing anything useful. Even if he knew something, it was not altogether certain that Rikyn would tell her. Their dealings in the past had been... less than friendly, and spite might tempt him to make this encounter just as unpleasant.

She hoped he wouldn't though. This was not the time, and she was decidedly not in the mood to bicker with someone who was not really an enemy.

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