The pain was still with her. Aolani gingerly stepped up to the river that she'd taken to calling the river of grief. The mare scanned the horizon for any sight of the one that had come so close to ending her life. She took a deep breath and dipped a hoof into the water. The water had only marginally warmed up since her last journey across. Was she really ready to go through with what she thought needed to be done? Could she not put this off until a time when she was fully healed?
Aolani snorted softly in the pale light of morning that drifted over the land. She had no idea when she would be able to make this journey again. Hina'ea had done a decent job of helping heal her shattered nerves. The scratches that Tsaheylu had inflicted upon her had begun to scab over. They still pulled uncomfortably if she over exerted herself. The thing called her back to the river though needed to be done and put behind her.
With a wince that belied just how terrible she still was Aolani minced her way into the river. The water was just as cold as before and she had to push herself to keep moving forward. The opposite bank lingered just out of her reach, weaving a tantalizing sight. The difference between this journey and the last was there was no extra weight to carry. Aolani was glad for this little difference. Had she needed to carry extra weight she probably would have not made it across.
With an audible groan the mare stepped onto the opposite bank and stilled her motions. Her eyes took in the vista around her as visible trembles ran up and down her body. A brief flicker caused Aolani to pale and shake even harder. In her mind she recognized the place where she had lain, at the mercy of a creature so terribly evil. Aolani squeezed her eyes tightly as if only that could block out the terrible images. Her breath came out labored as the trauma threatened to overwhelm her. A small puff of wind caused her mane to softly move against her neck and Aolani sighed. The attack was over, she was still alive and it was because of one reason.
Pushing herself to take more steps, Aolani came across a small patch of ground that contained a deep, but small depression. In the small hole lay a couple of blue and green feathers. With a reverence she didn't know she had Aolani reached into the hole and grasped the feathers that she could see. Her vision swam with unshed tears as she tilted her neck back to peer at the sky. She stood there in silence as a few sentences came from her mouth, "I'm sorry that I let you down. I will not forget your sacrifice."
With that done Aolani gently tucked her familiar's feathers into her mane. She would have to see if there was something she could do to have something fashioned from them. She did not wish to forget her familiar's sacrifice. It was because of him that she was still alive. Hina'ea would understand.
