The midnight swan flapped her wings as she landed smoothly on the surface of the slow-moving river. The setting sun reflected off the water, turning it a molten gold to match the swan's eyes. Despite the peaceful motion, there was no peace in the swan's heart when her eyes caught her own reflection.
The otter form would not come, no matter how she called. Tears flowed from her eyes, and she viciously attacked the uncaring waves. Didn't it care? Did anyone care? Her elder brother Angetenar might not care. He was too busy with their shattered herd and family. The ones who might care were gone. The ones who might be angry that the special Kalibyn magic was gone. The ones who might be worried when Nephele, a princess of the Moonlight Herd, had disappeared into the night, caged in a pelt she should not be heiress to.
It wasn't fair. She hadn't asked to have her magic reduced. She hadn't asked to lose her family. She had just wanted help putting her family back together and making things go back to the way they were.
She beat her wings in impotent frustration against the river, unaware of the eyes watching her from the banks as she transformed into a Star to better pursue her display of disappointment.
Emerald eyes flashed as the solar disk drifted toward its hilly bed. Even as the air around him slowly cooled, a faint aura of heat clung to his coat, warm as a summer's day. Had it been snowing, he might leave a trail of snowmelt in his wake. The Star was used to the magic that had come to reside within him. Fire would never be the easiest magic to grow accustomed to, with its dangerously destructive power, but he was taking the time to settle into it. With the recent pausing in raids from the Shadow Herd, the stallion could well afford to take the time to settle into his magic.
Ard-Righ Lughnasadh of the Sunflare Herd, one of the first herd leaders of this world, reputed to be one of its greatest rulers, was willing to be patient and do things right. Fire was like any other power to be harnessed: mighty and destructive, alluring and lawless, but capable of being shaped through patient strength, combined with determination and wisdom.
But maybe that was just Lugh's opinion.
As he gazed at the strange magic upon the surface of the river, Lugh beheld a child with impressive power for one so young, who clearly had none of the patient strength and wisdom to shape her gifts, just raw talent and determination. It didn't matter that the mare was clearly full-grown. Her display was that of a spoiled child. But if she could cry for her own situation...could she cry for others? Could she grow into her powers, and grow past her childish ways?
Lugh shook his sooty mane and tail. One way to find out would be to offer to take this mare into the Sunflare, to offer to guide her. At what cost? The Shadow and the Sunflare had been at war for years. Lugh already had a royal heir to prepare for the day he might renounce his throne. So much to do, so little time. But if this mare was as in need of guidance as he thought she might be...this might be a necessary task for the great fire-wielding king.
He coughed loudly to announce his presence.
