There is my mind, there is my heart.
It amazes her how well this mare is able to read her. Kagerus knows what Kylin wants and needs even before she knows it herself. She melts into the piebald’s side, her fin between their bodies, partially concealing her hips, but they are not long enough to cover the sharpness of her too pointy hip. Easy like that, Kagerus fills the void that has been left by those before her.

All Kagerus lacks is a pair of wings to drape across Kylin’s back, to tug her close and shelter her from the big bad world.

No. Kagerus is not Kharon. And that is for the good of it. Kylin remembers vividly how she had thought Klaudius was Kharon, and it hadn’t done her any good. Maybe she could use some change, like the one Kagerus is offering her right now.

She does not protest, but instead finds herself nodding. Kagerus says Hyaline would welcome her, and Kylin trusts her, even without her word for it. The corner of her lips curl every so slightly, and hope returns just like that. Hope she hasn’t had in a long while.

The trip from Ischia to Hyaline is not easy. She is leaving behind her home – god knows for how long – while she is not in a fit condition to travel. She’s weakened, emotional and broken. Not used to travel long distances, and neither to the cold. The further they leave Ischia behind them, the colder it becomes. And when the reach Hyaline, it’s even snowing. Kylin does not know if she should be delighted or terrified. The white little specks are cold upon her back, make her shiver and pull her fins tighter against her sides, but they do nothing to keep her warm.

Kagerus does, the right sight of her body doesn’t feel gold. The mare pressed against her side shields her from the wind, and their close bodies make sure to keep the heat between them. But Kagerus cannot be both on her left and right side, leaving the left unprotected and vulnerable to the cold. Something Kagerus soon makes her forget.

”It has been a while..” she mumbles softly, her dished head lifting as her hazel eyes glance around, taking in everything she sees. Her lips curl, and both her lavender ears perk forward. Hyaline hadn’t changed one bit, except for the winter that holds her in its grasp. ”She’s still beautiful” Kylin softly speaks, tilting her head a little to glance at Kagerus with a small smile. ”Though I prefer the lake not frozen.”

Kylin reaches out to press the velvet of her muzzle against the corner of Kagerus’ mouth, still smiling, but soon she finds herself glancing around again. She is eager to move towards the lake, frozen or not, because the water naturally calls to her. Father hadn’t picked Hyaline as a home for their family for nothing, though it had only lasted short. ”Can we go there?”

There is my mind, there is my heart.
Kagerus offers her both shelter ánd comfort, and Kylin gladly takes whatever the piebald mare offers her. Without a second thought she follows the offered lead, glad that these decisions are taken out of her control. Because everybody would see at the first glance that Kylin is not able to decide anything right now. Inside out, she is one big mess.

Pure joy shows upon her features when Kagerus agrees to go to the lake. Finding warmth and shelter hadn’t been on her mind – though she has to admit that she is freezing – as the lake is simply calling her. Frozen or not. ”Please..” Kylin nods, agreeing to whatever Kagerus is saying, anything would be okay, if that would mean they could go to the lake. And she simply does not think of sheltering herself against harm, like she hasn’t in a long while.

Hazel eyes are set on the lake, and with each step they take, her ears point forward more firmly. From time to time Kylin stumbles across her own legs, losing her footing, could be either due to the haste, or the fatigue. Who knows?

Kagerus’ first question has her humming softly, a soft confirming sound from the back of her throat, though her eyes are still set on the horizon. The way the sunlight reflects on the frozen surface is simply stunning. But the piebald’s other questions fall to deaf ears. Every step demands more energy than the previous one, and yet, Kylin is determined to make it to the lake, but it leaves little to no room to anything else.

By the time they reach the water bank, Kylin is panting heavily. Her nostrils flare wide and her sides heave with every breath. But, nevertheless, the lavender woman reaches out towards the ice. Her legs are trembling, movements are slow, and the cold wind bites into her skin even harder from this angle. ”It’s gorgeous..” she mumbles, more to herself than anybody else.

By the time she turns back to look at Kagerus, a lazy, half drunken smile tugs ever so slightly at the corners of her lips. ”Sorry.. I.. got carried a-away..”

There is my mind, there is my heart.
Before she can set a hoof upon the ice, let alone drop her head to let her muzzle touch it, Karerus is as a solid wall between them. Instead Kylin is drawn close against the piebald woman, and she finds herself leaning into it. A soft, dreamy sigh. She has missed this. Only when Kagerus speaks of resting she realises her eyes had closed. With a soft hum Kylin agrees, nodding her head ever so slightly.

Following Kagerus feels as the most normal thing in the world. Not even a single hair on her body thinks about fighting the offered lead. It is like the other mare knows exactly what she needs. Like Kharon had known. Like Ivar had known. And Kylin revels in it.

With a content sigh she leans against the bay and white mare. Kylin only realises how tired she actually is now she is safely tucked in for the night. Kagerus lies right behind her, not allowing the slightest space between them. It’s warm and cosy, and with Kagerus’ back to the cave’s entrance, Kylin is guarded against everything that could possibly harm her. The sweet caresses make her hum softly, with her eyes closed and her own lips itching to return the favor.

Kagerus does not need to say more. Kylin is on the brink of falling asleep already, and Kagerus’ steady breath lulls her in further.