[open] i remembered each flash, as time began to blur

[Aranea]

Ice and fire, fire and ice. Opposites, yet entirely the same. Each carried it's own burn - each could leave disaster in its wake. She was a blend of both - the fire of her father, the ice of her mother. The web had spun and spun and of the spider's egg came a creation both beautiful and dangerous. Once upon a time.. Her breath came fast, his teeth were hot on her hip. The earth echoed beneath her hooves and she very nearly flew across the forest floor. Trees appeared as spindly-armed obstacles and she dodged them easily, neatly, dipping in and out and leaping fallen logs without a second of pause. At first she did not even notice the icy wings. Fiery eyes finally lit upon them but she did not stop or gawk. Instead her pace increased as if she might outrun them, herself spurred on by the notion of competition. Yes, she was hungry. The taste of victory and accomplishment were the sweetest fruit she knew and even as her sides flecked with sweet and her lips frothed she did not slow. He bumped her and she faltered - spent. Then and only then did the ashen mare pull up, heaving, and study the icy vision placed above her with interest. Her own temporary wings were folded and out of use and she remembered, then, that his were gone. Aranea, even as she struggled to regain her breath, even as she stood looking half foolish (nearly black with sweat) looked at the ragged scars. Without thought she extended her nose and blew softly towards the marks before she sought eye contact, a clear question written there and in the arc of her neck - what happened? ARANEA (immortal, mute, infrared vision)from dust, she returned the dream, an enigma... silent