"...and you said we'd make terrible parents, dark-heart."
Web snorted softly but wasted little time nipping Brittle on the ear, hard. Astarte, walking calmly between the two, tilted her head up inquisitively. Web caught her eye and smiled. "It's more that our charge is a good girl, isn't it?"
The little mare laughed softly. "Dayi and khala are silly."
"Silly indeed," Brittle bent his head to the foal's ear, whispering in mock conspiracy. "See how much abuse your dayi suffers? This is true love, little star, learn it well."
Astarte giggled again as Web swatted the warrior, again with more force than play. She pressed close to the dark mare, who looked down with something almost like shock at the tender motion. When she spoke, her voice and eyes were as clear as a morning sky. "Khala is lucky."
With that she trotted ahead to join Lock and Hellion - the odd older sisters in her world. Web watched her go, her garnet eyes soft and furrowed. "She is...something else. With only a few words she can shake me like no enemy has before. It's a wonder a child like that came from Hinote."
"I was surprised as well," Brittle mused, the joking edge gone from his voice. "She calls us titles in ancient languages, but it's not...it's not like Avalir. It's just natural to her. It fits her. If she didn't have the kid's coat, I'd have doubts she was his at all. She's her mother's girl."
He glanced sideways, devilish again. "Does that mean she speaks the truth about what lies behind my lady's cold countenance...?"
Hellion looked back at the sharp sound of a flesh meeting earth - Brittle in the dust and Web trotting serenely on, head held high. There had been a time when she might have scowled, snapped something childish and petty. The older mare's effortless, subtle beauty, her pride and her strength - she had been jealous of all that once. Perhaps she still was, but...she was older now, and the anger didn't come sharp as it once did. Besides, Astarte was here, and that girl, Lock. She had...responsibilities now...
"Brittle, fail," Lock observed acutely, deftly. Hellion couldn't help the smirk that spread across her features at the mare's deadpan, succinct assessment. Sometimes Lock's lack of florid expression was the most accurate and amusing thing she was privileged to hear.
"It's her only way of showing affection," she said, lightly. "She might've been better off in your bonded's keep than mine."
Lock shrugged. "If that affection...all my bonded...lovers."
Hellion snorted and Astarte laughed again. Lock had apparently mastered the art of the intentional joke - Sanguine would be pleased to hear that. It might come in handy soon; Hellion could make out the sounds of the party in the distance. Astarte's ears perked and she trotted forward faster. Simultaneously her escorts moved to match - the little foal had truly become the heart of their group, eliciting all the tenderness that most of the elder serians, in the bitterness of their lives, had thought they had lost.
"Hey, easy," Hellion reached out hesitantly, giving a warning tap. "I know you're excited about meeting the new people, but we are going to be in strange company. You...have to be careful."
The words felt weird coming from her, as if another mare, older, mature, had crept into her skin. Astarte looked back and nodded, slowing as they neared the group. The amount of serians was overwhelming, all relatively new faces. Hellion felt her heart drop a bit - but it wouldn't do to run scared. Web came up beside her, and for once she felt comforted by the familiar aura.
"We're here so Astarte can get out a bit," the dark mare said, her eyes scanning the crowd. "But you and Lock deserve it as much as she. Go, show her around a bit."
Hellion nodded, meeting Lock's eyes. Astarte seemed to sense that she was the one who was in charge of the itinerary and headed toward the decorated cottage, eager to look at all the shiny green. The two mares followed her, far enough away that she wasn't strangled, but close enough that they wouldn't lose her in the crowd. Web watched them go with something like pride.
"You're losing your touch - it's the first time I've grounded you so easily koibito," she said, as Brittle came up beside her. "We're getting old."
The stallion gave a mock gasp. "My angel, self-conscious?"
She gave him a flat stare. He shook his head, touching his nose briefly to hers. "You are as beautiful as ever, but it is not my place to say that. Perhaps there is a certain fire that need be rekindled...but should you need me, I shall be in the company of that lovely green ambrosia over yonder."
With a smile he cantered off. She shook her head, smiling almost wistfully. Brittle never ceased to surprise her, even after all these years. Moons ago he would have never said that - moons ago she would've trounced him for the suggestions. She wondered if they had changed that much, but nonetheless the truth remained. How long had it been since she had seen Chaos? She wondered if he even still thought of her in passing...well, only one way to find out. She slipped into the crowd.
((Hope it's not too late to come in
