[open] a country of shadows

[midsommar]

Midsommar is neither pleased nor displeased when a girl about her age interrupts their observance of the coming storm. Her eyes - so dark, glittering, quiet - slowly leave the wolf to land on their new companion.

"What are you?" Sommar says, turning from her blank gaze on Mazikeen and settling on her wolf. "I've never asked," this is not said by way of explanation, merely an observation the chestnut filly makes to her companion.

A maned wolf, he states, never taking his gaze off their questioning guest.

"A maned wolf," is parroted, a bit of surprise now coloring her voice. "His name is Malachai, though," Sommar adds with a tilt of her head, "if you must address him."

A haunting wind blusters noisily around the trio, forming its own mini tornado of leaves. Maze's thoughts are background noise, for the most part, and Midsommar finds herself unsure of what to say. She doesn't display this, of course; and merely leans into what might be an uncomfortable silence.

(She can't really tell what's uncomfortable, not after spending so much time in others' thoughts.)

"My name is Midsommar," the filly finally says. The moon reflects like a wide, silver plate in her eyes - then disappears behind yet another dark, foreboding cloud.

"Why are you out here?'

midsommar

i have crawled over town with your hair in my mouth

just trying to tweeze all the last of you out

i only ever stay to get some of the blame

and to hear the way you handle my name

@[Mazikeen]