Post by JUNIPER ! on Jun 11, 2024 21:54:47 GMT -7
![](https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/45837a3c-e8f9-4e37-ad86-29a69b204262/dhjd4hy-0c905f62-6273-43ca-9ac3-d538ea270c80.png/v1/fill/w_1280,h_691,q_80,strp/sakura__by_ccacoldcloud_dhjd4hy-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9NjkxIiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvNDU4MzdhM2MtZThmOS00ZTM3LWFkODYtMjlhNjliMjA0MjYyXC9kaGpkNGh5LTBjOTA1ZjYyLTYyNzMtNDNjYS05YWMzLWQ1MzhlYTI3MGM4MC5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTI4MCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.wy1aCWePXk4yyilGz1hXSRa5dtsirLsMFzLnoaI-qIw)
If someone wasn’t going to come for Riddler themselves, she would do it for them. While some of her guardsman were amused by the stallion, others were ready to abandon their post (and position in the Shores) to escape him. She sympathized, though he was enjoyable to be around for the most part. Adora didn’t press him for information like she had thought she would, preferring to talk about anything but politics. Riddler remained annoyed about S’mores, and the baroness continued to assure him that she’d try her hardest to solve what might have been the greatest mystery known to all equine kind. The prisoner gave her small bits and pieces of his life in a way that did help her. In preparation for her trip to Grim Isle, she ensured that Storm was aware of her travels, and secured Winchester’s careful eye. Adora said her goodbye to her beta early that morning, unsure of what she was truly expecting from this venture. The song of Spring sang from all around her as she left her home behind, letting it calm the nerves that prickled along her spine. The mare hadn’t heard much about this Kladdan. What she did know was limited, situations of ‘in passing’ thanks to Riddler.
The Dark Lands seemed far less ferocious than she’d imagined. The fear she’d held onto for so long now washed away as each land passed her cerulean gaze; it was no different from the Light Lands save for the heaviness in the air that she could only assume was the shroud of darkness that emanated from its residence. Adora knew that not all Dark aligned were blood thirsty mongrels, yet she could not understand how one would stand beside those that were so freely. In her homeland, there was no dark or light. Horses had no free will if it was not for the God’s, and maybe her resentment came from expectations. Kladdan, not blood thirsty nor violent, rather brooding but tame in comparison to some. The pale golden mare, lost in all of her thoughts, came back to as the Isles came into view, halting her in her tracks. The land bridge that lay ahead was massive, dense fog leaving much to be desired. Her sonars flickered, eyes checking either side of her just to make sure that no one was lingering close, eventually taking the step forth to begin the cross over the bridge. Adora took each step with careful calculation, trying to keep her attention focused on where her feet were landing.
There was not much she could see until she reached the halfway point, where the sky opened up and allowed bits of sunlight to the ground. The fog ahead was dissipating, exposing the wilds of Grim Isle. Just as Riddler had said, it was a sight to behold; the expanse and variety of greens that washed over the treetops struck her still. Adora had to remind herself to breathe, where she began the trek forward again, this time far more relaxed. At the very least, she’d enjoy her visit for the scenery alone, no matter the outcome. Adora had accepted the fact that this could be the first battle she would have as a herd leader within Wild Equines, and part of her almost itched for the fight. The anger she had felt since coming here to learn Harlan was settled so comfortably in her hate for the palomino after everything was driving her insane. She had tried, on numerous occasions, to catch a sparring partner in the Bachelor Lands, to no avail. On the other hand, Adora knew that this meeting could mean other things — a connection in Dark territory wouldn’t hurt, even one that was tainted with uncertainty. There was a war going on, and she wanted an upper hand if the world was going to end in the midst of this pissing match that was becoming the Afterlife’s undoing.
The baroness made it to the end of the bridge, and she could see horses standing idly by the tree line. Guards, she assumed, by their taut shoulders and creased faces. “I’m here to see Kladdan in regards to Riddler’s release,” Adora said, leaving no time for them to demand a reason of her. They looked to each other with a nod, motioning for her to follow them. She sucked in a hard breath as she picked up a trot, keeping enough space to pull back if necessary. Adora wasn’t too concerned she’d be walking into something messy, but that didn’t mean she was right, and so her guard went back up. As the prisoner had warned her, it took some time to reach the rusted gates that lead up to the manor. The path they’d taken was well worn, and she wondered how lost she’d have been if she hadn’t been greeted on arrival. One of the stallions stayed back with her so the other could retrieve the lead as requested, leaving the two strangers to stand in a silence that was demeaning to Adora. She’d had her ears pinned to her skull by the time she could see someone returning, having almost tried to take off the guards face for his prying and back and forth of ‘I’m not touching you’. Adora had no idea if he who approached was even the Kladdan she sought, so she straightened her stance, anticipation rippling in her pit of her stomach.
The Dark Lands seemed far less ferocious than she’d imagined. The fear she’d held onto for so long now washed away as each land passed her cerulean gaze; it was no different from the Light Lands save for the heaviness in the air that she could only assume was the shroud of darkness that emanated from its residence. Adora knew that not all Dark aligned were blood thirsty mongrels, yet she could not understand how one would stand beside those that were so freely. In her homeland, there was no dark or light. Horses had no free will if it was not for the God’s, and maybe her resentment came from expectations. Kladdan, not blood thirsty nor violent, rather brooding but tame in comparison to some. The pale golden mare, lost in all of her thoughts, came back to as the Isles came into view, halting her in her tracks. The land bridge that lay ahead was massive, dense fog leaving much to be desired. Her sonars flickered, eyes checking either side of her just to make sure that no one was lingering close, eventually taking the step forth to begin the cross over the bridge. Adora took each step with careful calculation, trying to keep her attention focused on where her feet were landing.
There was not much she could see until she reached the halfway point, where the sky opened up and allowed bits of sunlight to the ground. The fog ahead was dissipating, exposing the wilds of Grim Isle. Just as Riddler had said, it was a sight to behold; the expanse and variety of greens that washed over the treetops struck her still. Adora had to remind herself to breathe, where she began the trek forward again, this time far more relaxed. At the very least, she’d enjoy her visit for the scenery alone, no matter the outcome. Adora had accepted the fact that this could be the first battle she would have as a herd leader within Wild Equines, and part of her almost itched for the fight. The anger she had felt since coming here to learn Harlan was settled so comfortably in her hate for the palomino after everything was driving her insane. She had tried, on numerous occasions, to catch a sparring partner in the Bachelor Lands, to no avail. On the other hand, Adora knew that this meeting could mean other things — a connection in Dark territory wouldn’t hurt, even one that was tainted with uncertainty. There was a war going on, and she wanted an upper hand if the world was going to end in the midst of this pissing match that was becoming the Afterlife’s undoing.
The baroness made it to the end of the bridge, and she could see horses standing idly by the tree line. Guards, she assumed, by their taut shoulders and creased faces. “I’m here to see Kladdan in regards to Riddler’s release,” Adora said, leaving no time for them to demand a reason of her. They looked to each other with a nod, motioning for her to follow them. She sucked in a hard breath as she picked up a trot, keeping enough space to pull back if necessary. Adora wasn’t too concerned she’d be walking into something messy, but that didn’t mean she was right, and so her guard went back up. As the prisoner had warned her, it took some time to reach the rusted gates that lead up to the manor. The path they’d taken was well worn, and she wondered how lost she’d have been if she hadn’t been greeted on arrival. One of the stallions stayed back with her so the other could retrieve the lead as requested, leaving the two strangers to stand in a silence that was demeaning to Adora. She’d had her ears pinned to her skull by the time she could see someone returning, having almost tried to take off the guards face for his prying and back and forth of ‘I’m not touching you’. Adora had no idea if he who approached was even the Kladdan she sought, so she straightened her stance, anticipation rippling in her pit of her stomach.