Terran
I was more than glad to find them, too. The simple comfort of having them both here, beside me, had put to rest a discomfort I’d long been harboring since Jinju and I had ghosted each other. Looking at her now you would never believe that we were parents together; in fact, it almost astounds me that we’ve come this far. Her soft touch reassures me, though - we could do this. I could do this. “For now, yes.” I tell Ander gently, but the tone indicates no further room for discussion. If I had my own son questioning me every step of the way, the three of us won’t get very far.
And that’s exactly what I want to do - get very far away from here. Our first ticket to that end comes in the form of a mare, approaching delicately enough that I know not to stop her. From the smattering of starlight she looks almost black, the only pale thing about her being the trim of bone mane and tail to set her into a lovely-looking frame. “Ea, pleasure -” I begin, fully intent on asking her the first question that comes to mind when she mentions the word island but my thoughts are halted by a newcomer.
This other mare is increasingly more familiar by scent alone, and when she calls out to us across the expanse, edging closer with each confident stride, I know exactly who’s approaching. “Heda.” I name her, though my tone is flat. Inside of myself I feel joy - no doubt radiating from Heda herself - and it reminds me with a sharp edge why I’d not stayed long inside the confines of Loess. Jinju had (near the end of her first life) wanted to stay far from involved with her adoptive sister and it had confused me, at first.
But my journey to Loess and Ander’s birth had opened my eyes. Heda, despite being cheerful enough to always seem appealing, was often rude and sometimes abrasive in her speech. Even when she draws close to Ander I can’t help but extended a wing of comfort to my son, or from shifting to press Jinju close to my shoulder. With Heda, even if I wanted to feel uncomfortable, oftentimes I simply couldn’t. She’s conveniently skipped right over the fact that Jinju was a baby - the transformation seems to not bother her at all and, with another mental note, it reminds me that she sees but does not care to actually look.
“I’m sure the children would love a visit … someday.” I offer lightly enough, my smile all but lost to the darkness. “But for now we should get to know each other, yes?” I tempt, turning to look between the two children at my sides before raising my eyes to the mares before us. “Ea, you say that Ischia is an island filled with delight - but how are my young supposed to get there? I’m the only one capable of flight between the three of us.” I ponder aloud, growing silent to allow for her reply.
To Heda I simply ask, “Loess is landlocked by two tumultuous kingdoms, has your guard grown in strength since my first visit? Jinju and Ander’s safety is my only priority now.”
All around these golden beacons, I see nothing but black