11th Day of Spring, sunset
It had been a bright, blue sky today. A spring sky with birds singing and flowers bursting to life in the grasslands. Everything was green and lush and alive. Yet, for the first time in months, Khiara felt hollow. Today was a place holder in time, a stark reminder of a time she wanted to forget. Unable to bear bringing down their pavillion in her sombre mood, the young woman had spent the whole day out. She walked the markets and she spent a long time with Vsenri. It was stupid, but Khiara mounted the stallion and left the safer centre of the city, riding to the outskirts where pavillions were far and few and the grass could swallow a person up. There was a river, small and sweet, where she stopped. Sitting on the stallion, the girl looked out across the swaying grass with dull eyes as the day drew to a close. Vsenri nudged her kne gently, drawing her mind away from Avanthal.
"Do you miss him too? Of course you do. Poor thing, it's not right, but its in our past now. Still.." Sighing, she stroked his cheek as she spoke in vani.
"At least we found a place to welcome us, and a family who loves us. Eliac wanted this, for both of us." Quietly, she continued to stroke, her eyes a dull lavender in the slowly oranging sky as the sun began to set. Wrapping her arms around Vsenri's neck, she squeezed her eyes shut as they stung, cheeks becoming wet with tears.
"Goddess, give me strength to get through this night." She prayed, breaking into sobs. It was sunset, the hour of his untimely death. Khiara remembered the sad, sorry faces and the apologetic words. She could see the broken boat and feel the cold snow melting through her leggings. Lifting her head, the girl wiped her cheeks and took a deep breath. The sun was just beginning to sink behind the horizon. Speaking softly, she turned Vsenri and urged him into a canter, back towards the city.
It was dark by the time she'd reached the coral, walking Vsenri once they'd reached the safety of the city. Slowly dismounting, she hugged the frostmarch and kissed his muzzle. With a soft snort, the horse moved away to leave her standing by the gate. Tears still wet her cheeks, coming since the sun had set. Standing with her arms hugged around herself, the vantha cried softly, head bent and shoulders shaking. Goddess, dear Goddess it was hard.
