[private] Sins of judgement born in frost; Star Pony

[lilliana]

"And Valerio blew a gale so strong that Cazador had no choice," her cousin embellishes. "He flared his great wings and he started to soar." Elaina waits, a smirk already playing on her golden features. "He took to the skies. He flew and flew. But his wings were no match for Valerio's wind." The twins, though they pretend to be old to believe in such fantastical tales, watch their aunt with rapt attention. Kildare widens his green eyes and takes a step closer, urging Elaina on. "And?" he asks, prompting her to continue the story.

Elaina blows a stream of air from her nostrils, mimicking the great ability that the Legacy clan was known for. There is an expectant silence and all three colts are silenced - a rarity with this crowd. Low comes the intoning voice of her beloved cousin, "Valerio summoned so fierce a gale that it is said Cazador was never seen again. That he was blown clear into the clouds where he waits for the wind to settle and to seek his revenge." Her amber gaze flicks heavenward, studying the few cumulus clouds in the blue sky above them. All three boys look up, searching for the bloodthirsty beast.

"You'll give them nightmares," comes the teasing reply of Lilliana. But there is admiration in the tone and affection in her blue eyes as she walks towards her nephews and the one she considers a sister. How like Elaina to take something awful, the horrors of war and weave it into a story where the youngest among them might marvel at it. Valerio had come back tired - haggard. An echo of the man from the stories of her own foalhood until he left them again. And here was Elaina lighting a torch, igniting a flame in the future Legacies as they ventured forward.

Foolhardy, most likely. But you won't find it in Lilliana to find fault with hope. Better that Valerio's grandsons believe his absence is due to fighting the evils of the world, that he remains in an immortal realm where he keeps the darkness from spreading to them all than the reality of what really happened. Better the illusion than the emptiness of waking from a dream.

Lilli had rolled her eyes, had teased Elaina when the boys had gone. But despite the uncertainty that the presence of her palomino cousin brought, despite the fact that they had wanted Lilliana to play the role of jailer, the two of them had fallen into a stride together that came as easy as galloping across the highlands. Lilliana had told Malachi that no, she wouldn't insist that Elaina stay in Culloden. And the chestnut mare had decided that if it was asked of her, she would help her escape. They could both leave.

If they could go together, then what else could they possibly need?

She is quiet in her memories, introverted in her thoughts as she wanders. Lilliana goes through a million memories that have made up a lifetime, analyzing each one, agonizing over the words and imprinting each memory more intensely on her heart. Perhaps it is the winter season - she hates the frigid bite and its emptiness - perhaps its Frostbane's promise, a debt that he promised would be collected and the longer she goes without a sign, without some kind of assurance that Elaina is safe, the more her mind goes to worry.

And there are so many other things she worries about, the troubles of her mind take her so many places than this physical forest she roams. 

Worry forms a line of her crimson brow and it paints the expression on her face (though she does her best to hide it). Like the icy breathe of winter as it wraps around the empty branches, so do these thoughts wrap around a heavy heart. 

And so Lilliana does the best she can - she wraps herself in memories of Elaina, of Orani and Jacob, of Malachi and Kalina and their children, of Brielle and Jay and Aislynn. She remembers that she once belonged to something sacred and she uses that ground her, to keep her from completely drifting away. 

Even if her family is no longer with her, she carries them with her. She remembers and it propels each step forward in the moonlit woods. It would seem she is not alone. At first, it stills her. The pace of her heart picks up and her blue eyes search in a moment of madness in the silver shadows, hoping for a familiar face in this midnight hour. Lilli catches her breath and asks a question to the emptiness around her, something that she refuses to let swallow her: "Hello?"

@[Briella]