Ashley looked at Magnus, when he spoke of borders, and then again when he spoke of his homeland. The sun was lowering in the sky and he had lingered here far too long. He had not meant to get into the memories of a time that was long dead and gone, and rulers that had ruled after him—in the land that he had re-created. They had followed his stead, and then his daughters. After those glory days were over, came a time of peace—and then of great war and pestilence; the Catastrophe. He knew that they had survived without him, just as they would always survive.
The residents here were resilient, if for nothing else. They would survive and last, just as their ancestors did. “Katana’s time on the throne came after my time there; but loyalty to land always runs deeper than to the one who runs it. I try to remember that it’s the land that I look to for sustenance and living—not necessarily its ruler.” And with that, he let the sentence hang. No sense in rehashing the history of Beqanna. Those days were long dead and gone.
He stretched, his wings splaying out, bringing comfort to his muscles that had tightened up from standing here. “I best be on my way, Magnus,” he says with a yawn. Flicking his tail and taking a step with a strong hoof in the ash-ridden soil, he was shifting his bodyweight to head north—back to the ocean. “The sea is calling, and I must make plans to visit the other leaders at some point. All but Taiga.” He shakes his head. Not Taiga. Never there.
“If you ever have a wish to see the beaches, please know that you are welcome any time, friend.” And, nodding, he turns and heads in the opposite direction. An understanding was set up between them. Perhaps not an alliance, as things were not yet necessary… but a friendship built on mutual respect and protection for those who were looked to them for guidance. The days were new and the time of the new Beqanna was at hand—but it would only be determined by the strong.
By the resilient.
ashley
I walked the path, it led me to the end.