Responsibility was a hard lesson.
After AuraSidra's last misadventure she had known no shortage of support, but that didn't really make it any easier of a lesson. It was, in a way, a loss of a certain kind of innocence.
Eternal was understanding in a way that was rather surprising, given her Rogue nature. She was, simply put,
more. One wouldn't typically expect her to commiserate with a filly who had no special talents of her own.
It wasn't about raw power however, and Eternal was respected above the others for much more reason than sheer talent. She led them; it was natural, a part of her personality, a piece of her that wasn't so much defined by her being a Rogue as it was that it had simply demanded by its very nature that she be nothing else. She well understood the burden of identity.
Other had helped, as much as they could. The Elementals had spoken with the filly about their own brand of responsibility; Darroch's obsession with learning was seen in a whole new light by their little winged wonder after that particular talk. Their warrior had helped in his own way, giving her nothing to hide with, no fear to cower behind. It was fact; what was she going to do about it? AuraSidra had taken the bait and pushed back, too much her mother's daughter to allow herself to flinch away. She was their little princess. Others with powerful personalities shared some small wisdom; Flint and Path had been particularly appreciated, considering how much they had changed over time. They no longer actively pushed to carry that burden, allowing others with more natural skill to take over; but once, they had been the fiercest.
While much of the haunted look had gradually left the youngster's eyes, there still remained a shadow. It was simply the knowledge of seeing the world differently. There was little to be done for that, or little that anyone else could do. Eternal, however, was not anyone else.
So it was they ended up on some random beach, in some random part of Sionayra; more likely than not they'd wound up on the other side of the Yurin mountains and it was the Neretyn sea that frothed around her fetlocks. It wasn't
quite the sanctuary of the fields, but it wasn't too far off either.
Today wasn't a day to sit in peace and grow comfortable with the difference to what had been. Today was the day to begin what would be.
AuraSidra, of course, didn't mind in the least that they wound up somewhere completely out of her element. Not that she particularly had an element; snow and sunlight, dazzling, blinding, warm on her back and cold in her face. The beach was an odd texture, but the sun glinted brightly off the water; at least she could see. Her eyes were so accustomed to brilliance that dimmer lighting made her nearly blind.
She was glad Eternal was here. It was the only one she knew who didn't make her skin twitch as if flies were swarming her. She was still who she was; still too bold for her tiny form, but now there was the strain of knowing just how normal she was in all other regards. It felt, with all the others, as if she took on more than she had a right to handle; she could fail them. She knew that now.
Eternal was the only one with a bigger personality than her, the only one who she couldn't out-sass. Well, perhaps her parents; she did listen to them, really. Mostly. When they made sense.
The twitching to a bit better after talking to Caustic, though. He put her in the right mindset. So she didn't have special tools; so she could feel freezing winds in space that played with the burning suns, and she could use them to paint across the sky. It wouldn't really help with anything, save maybe a momentary distraction if one was desperately needed. It was such a mild magic that was so strictly related to the affinity of her parents that she was numbingly average. Almost all Serians had some small touch of magic, beyond the general ability to speak through the mind-touch. Warriors had less, but they had such physical talent that it was rarely missed. Warriors were the prime example of what their species could physically become. Elementals were the prime of what their magic could become; and of course, Rogues like Eternal were the examples of what the Goddess would be if she took their shape, the ultimate in all their potentials.
Average though she was, her one special talent was her brain. Her personality. Her parents had told her that few had stirred up the bond-herd as she had, and her just a wee thing of no particular ability. If she felt the lack of these extra things she would never be, then surely she would simply hone those tools she did have. What would she do then, indeed; as if crawling into a corner and claiming herself to be less, to be so insignificant, could happen! To even
imply such a thing!
Hmph!
Every time she thought of it she got irritated all over again, yet once that irritation faded she felt that lingering uncertainty. She was glad she had Eternal to look up to; everyone looked up to the Rogues. None could feel the raw abilities of might and magic as they could.
They also probably never doubted themselves.
But - uh-oh, what was that? Eternal had perked her ears forward, taking note of something in the not-too-distant shoreline. Someone coming? Typically, save for the fiercer of the unbonded, their own kind wasn't much of a threat; certainly not to someone like their Great Lady, surely? At least she hoped it was simply someone new. She had
seriously had enough with ancient things trying to kill her and everyone she loved. Seriously, what in Epona's name was all that about??
The next second AuraSidra forgot about such speculations as Eternal called out in a whicker.
Hail and well met, friends! Would that be the cherished kindred of my cloud walking friend, Caelum? He'll be greatly pleased to have news brought back to him of his loved ones.
Really? the filly squeaked, both surprised and unaccountably excited,
StormWalker had foals? When did that happen? Why doesn't he share gummy grasses with them? Greetings! she called, pushing her thoughts as far out as her youth would allow,
What are y'all called? Do you know any games?
New games were always a good thing, especially as she didn't have that many for the beach, herself. Tribe did, of course, but then that wanderer had a lot of things that AuraSidra had yet to pry out of her. Yet.
Eternal smiled to see a little sparkle return to the filly in her excitement. It had been hard to convince Thorn to stay home, a strange argument to have with the Hermit, but in this moment she was glad she'd finally convinced the stallion to part from their little Princess's side. Right now the last thing that youngling needed was someone hovering. She needed to jump off the metaphorical cliff again; carrying her wouldn't help.