He doesn’t notice her immediately, not until after he has watched the three figure melt into the distant horizon and disappear. Only then does he spare her a glance. Cerva hesitates as she looks longingly in the same direction, willing them all to return, but to no avail. They’ve decided their fates and have taken that bold leap that will take them far from the Gates. For once, Cerva is not following the crowd. She doesn’t tuck her tail and run for the simple fact that they have. They’ve deserted the Gates, but she won’t.
A sharp breath stabs into her lungs when she hears his pained admission. ”Ummm…” she’s suddenly at a loss for words. How else can she soothe the burn in his heart when the facts just fled their home? Her weight shifts thoughtfully from one side to the other as her mind blindly gropes for reassurance. ”Don’t say that. It has just been a rocky start for you,” it was him that caused the stir when she initially arrived. She can still hear the clamor of arguing in the back of her mind, echoing. ”Maybe there’s hope yet,” there’s wishfulness in her honeyed voice as her nutmeg eyes search for his before casting out across the grassy hills. ”You let your emotions get to you so you have a couple enemies now,” Cerva is honest even if the taste of it is bitter on her tongue. She can only hope that the three won’t lash toward the kingdom in some way or cause a stir in their anger.
The wind sighs and tousles her mane and tail. A silence brews between them as she mulls over what happened over and over again. As tempting as it would be to leave like them Cerva finds herself rooted to the kingdom. She wasn’t there to watch the events unravel nor was she close enough to either member to shadow their retreat. Their choice to desert the Gates simply plunged Cerva into darkness where the only company she had was herself. It frightened her and even now, in the company of Zeik, she is still frightened. ”Cerva,” she whispers into the cool breeze, ”I’m Cerva.”
Cerva