As frostbitten grass gives way to the sand grains of endless time, the duo, addled with Shahrizai, trudge the beaten pathways. Lethea has a glimmer in her eye, as the dark grey skies of winter change, to a softer, darker blue and the warm rays stroke her skin, much kinder than the harsh touch of jack frost. Mnemosine holds the sharp feeling of doubt, it sits behind her eyes, sits within her chest like lead and she finds her breaths come harsher, stronger. She did not doubt that the blue roan's intentions were good, she did not doubt his soft voice and gentle eyes, but it was she, and her memories painted such life as foe and pain-givers. Lethea, her brain, like a gentle mist, hiding those thoughts and those painful memories. She, she took to the change of grounds, change of environment like a fish would swim in an endless ocean; her pace increased and even though her skin feels taut against her fine and skinny frame, her scarred bay body has a new glow about it. She bounds, her flinty hooves sinking, fetlock deep, her neck strained high, crown lofty as her eyes seem to bulge taking in all the expanse. 'It goes on and on.' her tone is wistful, soft, lost within the sand grains as they whip past on an air current.
'It is indeed beautiful.' Mnemosine agrees, her tone almost clipped, but the smile that pulls at her lips is every bit genuine. It is fleeting though, as she watches curiously as the man motions to the oasis. shimmering water's edge like glass, reflective. A shine, a glimmer and she watches as he drinks, her own eyes drinking in his form. He was a larger man, his skin a dark, roany blue. He sort of reminded the bay girl of the dark sunsets, just as the sun gives way to the moon, the dark stars mottling the dark navy skies, just before the moon glows full. Her observations are quiet, but Lethea notices and bounds over, her fine limbs sinking in the depths. She nudges her sister's shoulder with her own and knocks her off balance. Lethea then takes to the waters, and drinks, she drinks wholeheartedly and with a need that goes farther than just thirst.
'Have you always lived here?' Lethea asks, soft words falling from her lips like the stray droplets that attach to her fine whiskered muzzle. Mnemosine is silent, silent for moments, for what seems hours. Her gaze has found the watery depths and she sees herself; every scarred inch of her bay frame. ridges, lines, patterns. She closes her eyes and she feels the dampness of tears pinprick them, but she refuses to let them fall. She has managed to keep them together this long, she shan't fail yet. The bay girl lowers her muzzle and the cool waters are welcoming as they slip down her throat.
'Shahrizai? Mnemosine asks, almost uncertain the way she says his name. She sidesteps out of her sister's shadow, where Lethea reaches out, her lips quiver yet no words fall, she touches her sister's thin barrel, strokes the lines where he ribs can be seen (just an added embellishment to His masterpiece.) Mnemosine wriggles out of her sister's concern and she steps closer to the blue steed, she is nervous, it is seen in the way her eyes dart to the oasis, back to the reflections. She kicks a stray, burdensome lump of hardened sandstone into the depths and she watches silently as it distorts her already distorted image. She wonders what he sees when he looks at her, when he looks at the pair. Both earthy bay, adorned with tresses of black; what once had gleamed with health, like gossamer fine. Now, matted and gnarled with twigs and gorse. Once glimmering pelt of bay, now dull and fine and thin, cracked like artist's clay, too hot, too broken to go on. What had he seen in them, to offer them home, to reach out and send the pair a rope to their rescue? She wonders, she wonders indeed, but it is her glass-eyed sister than asks, than answers and Mnemosine remains quiet then, just watchful, silent words upon her tongue.
'Are there many others here? I don't know if we could cope too well with... crowds. But it seems open, wide, open. Look at all the rolling dunes! Sand, sister, sand, everywhere.' Lethea is distracted, she tears herself from her sibling's side and bounds to the other side, sinking and slipping through the sand, as though her body already weightless, her soul already having escaped it's broken vessel. She bends her head low and she nudges the sparse bits of vegetations, teeth grinds against the sandy weeds, grainy and strangely salty.
'Thank you.' Mnemosine says, now her sister is removed from the equation for a few moments. She says it again, this time stepping closer, as if her fragile voice is too quiet to be heard. 'Thank you. It means so much to finally find somewhere to rest, to find someone who..' she pauses here, the pause is long and more heartbeats than necessary, but she brings her gaze back from the glimmer of the water's surface, to Shahrizai. 'Hasn't judged us...'
Lethea & Mnemosine
we are just misguided ghosts, travelling endlessly