Men and lands have come and gone in her life. Born in the Mourning Mountains, then taken to the Gates by Magnus – her maman’s lover and her assumed father. He ruled the heavenly lands, until someone decided to take over. And then someone else did the same, and the same, and the same. Then Beqanna took the lands, gave hem new ones in return.

Things weren’t so very different in this new world. Although her father had left someone he trusted in charge, Lucrezia had been cast out. Amore had rather liked the golden and peacock mare. She was sweet and kind and honest, and Tephra would’ve thrived under her rule. If she wouldn’t have stepped down.

Amorette had been rather disappointed and even quite upset about it. She couldn’t really blame anybody for what had happened, but that didn’t mean she would have to like it and blindly accept it. She had needed time, taken some, and was now ready to mingle again. And meet Tephra’s new leader, meet some new faces and maybe talk to Warrick again. She liked him.

In all the time she had never left Tephra. She had kept to herself, stayed out of sight and just lived. Day by day, in the caves on the beach. Before, when her father had still ruled the lands, she had seen a couple go in and out of them. Their scents vaguely lingered, but they were no longer around. She had needed the time to think, to deal with things. Tephra had a new leader, which she had learned to accept.

Her gaze moves up the volcano, watching it silently. There is a small smile tugging on the corners of her lips. It still very much reminded her of the past, the first few weeks of her life. Minette, her maman. And of course Besra, her dear friend. All in the past now though, even her father was no longer around. One thing for sure, Amore missed him.

Amorette

Quand on n'a que l'amour.

Home sweet home.

Or that was how it was supposed to be. With both former leaders of Tephra gone, Amorette would have to see if Tephra would still be home to her. She wanted it to be. This was the land her father had ruled, where he had built his new life and where he welcomed her home. It wouldn’t have been for no reason. She hopes.

Just as she hopes that the new ruler would accept her stay. She technically hadn’t left, but she hadn’t truly been around either. Tephra’s scent, rich of volcano and ashes, clung to her skin and mingled with her scent, but that still didn’t really made her a part of the kingdom.

Or, someone might have seen her around. Like someone approaches her now. Honestly, Amore hadn’t paid that much attention to all the new faces, this odd eyed tall black and white stallion isn’t known to her. She finds herself nodding, with a little smile on her lips. ”We haven’t, but it’s nice to talk to someone again” she replies. Curiously she glances up at him, not able to not linger watching his one red eye for a bit.

”Welcome home then, I guess. My name is Amorette and I’ve been around for.. a while” as she speaks she cannot stop herself from glancing into the direction of the beach where the caves were. They had been her home ever since Lucrezia had left. She knew so little others, with Magnus gone. Perhaps only Warrick left. ”Have you lived in Tephra long?” Amore doesn’t ask out of curiosity, or with any bad intention. Just trying to make small talk and let her honest interest show. Maybe that was why Magnus had always told her she would be a great diplomat once.

But that was a long time ago.. Before she got stuck in time due to the Reckoning. Back when the Heavenly Gates still existed.

Amorette

Quand on n'a que l'amour.

Ever since she was young she had had a positive view on life. New faces were greeted with a smile and she liked to think of their best intentions only. Not that she was oblivious to bad ones, or perhaps a little, but Amore simply preferred the more positive look on life. Something she had to thank both her parents, Minette and Magnus, for.

And thus she smiles when Levi agrees that their meeting is nice. ”It is.” Amorette nods, agreeing whole heartedly. It was always nice to meet someone new.

His voice pulls her away from her thoughts, away from the beach. With an apologetic smile she turns to look at the tall brown and white male. As he tells his story, allows her to have a peek into his life, she listens curiously. Not in a crazy stalker way, more like in an interested way. If she wanted to stay in Tephra, it wouldn’t hurt to know some of the other residents.

Especially the last thing he tells her about his history is what interests her. Her smile grows wider and this time she glances across her other shoulder. Not the beach, not the caves, but to the volcano. ”Tephra’s beach you mean? Nothing really special about it, but…” Lucrezia had told her stories about her trip there and even though Amore has been fascinated by it for so long now, she had yet to make the trip. ”… have you ever been up the volcano?” she asks, her head swaying back to face Levi.

Her eyes are almost twinkling. And for a moment she feels like a child again, eager to explore. The volcano was what had made her like Tephra, it reminded her of the past. Not the Gates, but the herd where she had been born. The Mourning Mountains.

Amorette

Quand on n'a que l'amour.

She took after her mother, perhaps a bit too much. Of course her father – or step dad actually, but Amorette did not know that – had had some influence on her character too. Once she had thought that she would become a diplomat for the Gates, but now… Amore honestly did not know yet where she stood. Making new friends and acquaintances, and Levi was the first one in this first step.

When he tells her he had plans to explore the volcano, her ears perk up. She’s genuinely interested in what he tells her, as she is still eager to go up the volcano herself. ”I’ve been told that the view is spectacular.” Lucrezia had told her great stories about her trips there, but sadly enough they had never gotten the change to go up once together. Amorette’s gaze follows Levi’s to the volcano, smiling a little as the longing grows. It was calling her.

She doesn’t know if she should try to change his plans, to invite him to explore the mountain together. Or if she should tell him that saving the best for last was the best option. However, before she gets a chance to say anything, Levi beats her to it. ”No need to ask me twice” she tells him with a wide grin, an enthusiastic twinkle in her eyes. Oh yes, she really wanted this.

Right now.
With Levi.

After all, he seemed just as interested and eager as she was. Why else would he abolish his plans? ”Lucrezia told me it was best to leave early in the morning, but I think we should be fine” she says as she joins him, walking alongside Levi. It was still morning, not as early as their former queen had meant. Not too late in the morning either though.

As they climb, Amore allowing Levi to find the best route up. She did not follow him blindly, aware to place her hooves with enough attention to find her own way. ”What do you think of Tephra? What is it like to you?” she asks, both to keep their conversation going and curious to learn what he thought. All in favour to see if Tephra would still be home to her.

But deep down she knew she wouldn’t be able to ignore the volcano’s calls.

Amorette

Quand on n'a que l'amour.

Lucrezia returning to Tephra, in fact, it would bring Amorette much joy. Not that she expected the golden peacock mare to stir trouble, but because she genuinely liked the older mare. Her father had liked her and Amore’s time with Magnus had only been brief. She would gladly listen to everything Lucrezia could tell her about him. But, with both former Tephra leaders gone, all Amore had left was Tephra. And she was excited to explore more of the lands with Levi.

It’s Levi who makes her look up, she would’ve cocked up an eyebrow if she could. ”Oh? And why is that?” she asks, both teasing and curious. Amore caught the faint curl of his lip out of the corner of her eye. He held her attention, or, most of it, as a part of her was focussed on their trip. Tripping right in front of him would definitely not make a good impression. But there was no shame in admitting he was right here. ”That would be a pretty amazing sight..” she sighs softly. Not only admitting, but she was actually pretty excited for it too. His smile makes her think he’s almost just as excited.

With a smile of her own she gently bumps her shoulder into his, her twinkling eyes holding his for a moment before focussing on the way ahead of them. She had been eager to go up the volcano for quite a while now and she couldn’t be more excited that she finally could.

At the same time Amorette was just as curious to learn more about Tephra. Not just exploring it. She’s all ears for the things Levi is willing to tell her. ”Hey!” she teasing exclaims at the nip, shrugging her shoulder lightly. Though she’s soon to try to pry more out of him. ”How come? Have you been to other parts of Beqanna?” she asks, her head tilting a little as she turns it a bit to the side to look at him with one eye.

His question silences her for a while. Her gaze, no longer focussed on Levi or the volcano, travels around. Tephra. Lush green fields all around them, humid temperature that she found strangely pleasant. Never cold. But that probably wasn’t what Levi was asking. ”It reminds me of the place I was born. The Mourning Mountains are not at all like Tephra, except for the volcano and a few other things, but somehow they feel alike to me. My first steps onto these grounds, it felt like coming home.” And her father had been here to welcome her home. Sadly enough, he no longer was.

Amorette

Quand on n'a que l'amour.