The sky was still mostly light, though the shadows were deepening by the moment as the sun moved towards the horizon. The breeze kicked up, sending a shiver up the spine of the winged mare. The nights were getting colder, the days shorter. Ember was tempted for a brief moment to start a fire to keep warm, but the vision of her mother burning to death by a fire she couldn't control was still too fresh in her mind to allow it. Perhaps when it became a matter of life or death she would give in and build a fire, but not tonight.
Instead she relied on the heat of the ever-burning ember around her neck, the curse from the Spirits as penance for her deeds. It warmed her to a point, and it would do for now. She settled herself on the top of a hill to watch the sun sink and the sky turn colors as it set. She wished the sunsets didn't come so early now, though if she wasn't mistaken the shortest day of the year should be any time now. After that the days would slowly begin to grow longer again. She tried to cling to that optimistic mindset, to beat back the dark thoughts that always lingered at the edge of her notice. She didn't want to think about that awful day, didn't want to remember any of it. If only she could find some distraction, at least for a time.
hanging gallow
