Who we are is up to us, it is decided in ever action we take and every decision we make. The world might try to guide us or destroy us along the way but only we are in control of our destiny, which side of the line we find ourselves.

The last few months had been crackling with whispers, rumors, anxiety, fear, and anger around Beqanna. The tension was thick between kingdoms, territories, and herd lands. Beqanna's future was at this moment unknown. Lethy had done her best to ignore the signs, ignore the heated tension. She had spent her days rearing Kalil, her beautiful new baby boy, and Orion, the new girl she had found alone in the forest. But, it did not go unnoticed Aten's ever growing absence - she did not question his loyalty to her or Taiga even now, or even Wolfbane's extended absence - his presence a mighty force leaving the red woods quiet in his leave.

She had searched the night before in the meadows for her friend. Something pulled tight in her chest telling her she needed to find Lepis. She had not been there, worry crinkled her brow as she had settled down for the night snuggled close to her children, kissing each one before sleep took them.

The next morning she had left Kalil with Owin leaving the boys to play while she took to the edge of Taiga. Dawn broke against the dark moonless night as she saw the shifting of a shadow drift from a perch to the ground. Lepis. My friend, how are you? she asked as she joined her leader by the pond. Her amethyst eyes gleamed in the rising sun, soft and gentle upon Lepis before moving to the water. She leaned down to gulp down the refreshing, cool water, waiting to listen.

She watched the light and navy woman before her struggle through her emotions, or maybe lack of? She offered her own greeting in return, worry wrinkling her brow. It seemed the weight of the world rested on her friends shoulders. She knew that when Lepis came to Taiga, taking it from Aten’s hands as if she could simply say and things would be that her intentions were coming from a place of pain, and good. That all she really wanted was for no one to feel what she had felt, for all of those she held near and dear to be safe. The mare confirms this as she breaks the silence with affirmation that her world was falling apart and by her hands nonetheless. That all she wanted was for everyone to be safe.

Lethy stood there for a solemn moment letting the mares words sink into the world around them, sadness gripping at her eyes. It was a tragic thing that happened to you and your family. she said softly thinking back to the first time, a couple years ago, when Lepis had called her first meeting and had told them of their loss. At the time she knew that Lepis was hurting, angry, looking for a way to right that wrong and to make sure it never happened to anyone else again. It is only natural to want to protect the world from those kinds of feelings by making sure they never happen to anyone again. But, Lepis, that war was started by leaders forcing followers to do things against their will. Forcing a nation to follow their will and theirs alone. You can not protect the way you wish by pushing boundaries and expecting others to follow suit without listening to them first. Lethy stopped staring into the duo’s reflection in the water, anxiety filling her heart.

She hoped that Lepis knew that she was her friend always, regardless of their opposing views. She was here now, with her hooves skimming the ponds edge, as a friend first and foremost. My heart breaks for you. You can not control the world, even if your intentions are good. When we try to control the impossible, forces will always defy us sometimes in the exact ways we are trying to avoid in the first place. When rulers bend their subjects to serve them, their subjects revolt. When rulers force their subjects to protect their land more often they scatter in the face of danger instead of standing strong against opposition because in reality it is not their battle to fight. Would it be a horrible things to lay all your cards on the table and tell those who will listen just what your plans are and let us decide for ourselves if we want to be apart of them?

She grows silent, uncertain of how her friend will react to her words. I am here for you Lepis, maybe I won’t agree with your actions or your views and more certain I will defend Taiga and my family even if it turns out to be against you. But when your world is crashing down I hope you don’t feel like you have no one who understands, because I do.

Their mirrored images quiver in the pool below them as Lepis begins to respond. Lethy’s eyes widen just a tad as she opens up about her plans, mostly because Lethy was not expecting her to be so open like she had asked her to be. Everything has been so tense as of late she expected Lepis to put her in her place and then move on from the conversation and maybe Lethy all together for the day. She was, however, also surprised that Lepis wanted to make Taiga kingdom of the north. She thought back to that first day she had met Lepis. She thought surely that Lepis was leader of Loess the first moment she saw here. The woman screamed leadership just from standing quietly. When she had first arrived in Beqanna Lethy had been a small, meek thing with no confidence but she had always been one to pay close attention. As she thought back to that day she remembered how Lepis had seemed unsettled by Lethy venturing through Loess. Ascending from the cliff face, she held herself rigidly, on alert for any danger. Lethy had seen the same physicality in Lepis as of late, as if she were tense, alert, and stressed all of the time.

She listened as Lepis talk about Taiga’s ever growing numbers and activities. How she had her uncles approval, Lethy crinkled her brows at this. Did Lepis really think that Heartfire would not have viewed this as a direct threat to the rest of the North. The North already had relations with Tephra and her islands. A land that had not so long ago been attacked by Loess. A place Heartfire had agreed to aid and then had watched burn.

Maybe it was not as much about giving up the crown as it was about watching her allies burn and at the hands that now ask her to give up her crown. One could not blame her for being suspicious. Once trust has been lost between you and someone you hold dear it’s hard to reason with them, even harder so when it is someone who does not hold a special place in your heart. She locked her gaze with Lepis. Her eyes answered Lepis’ it was unmistakable that she did not agree with making Taiga kingdom, especially while allied to Loess. However, she added to make sure Lepis knew she would always be there, Just because I don’t agree with everything, it does not mean that admire you my friend. You have strong ambitions and integrity. she offered her a half smile before Lepis asked her about her trip to Island Resort.

Oh, Lepis. It was beautiful. The beaches were bleached white and the trees were thin, spinly beautiful things. The greenest green I’ve ever seen. I am pretty sure I even saw a bird colored exactly like you. she said with a wide smile. It was definitely a learning experience though. It taught me to accept people’s differences in opinions with grace. I have come to realize how extremely different we all are from each other and yet very much the same. she chewed on her lip for a moment in thought, eyes staring out across the small water hole. How were your diplomatic visits? she asked in turn.