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The sun is setting behind you as you trot through the autumn-stricken meadow. The grass is a golden sea waving in the slight breeze. As you trek along the even ground, you pass the beginning of a lake. You stop and stare out at placid water. The remaining rays of light sparkle and dance on the unbroken surface. You take a deep breath of the autumn air and smile before continuing onward. Soon, you find yourself knee-deep in a rainbow ocean of flowers. You furrow your brow, such new blooming flowers in the middle of autumn? They inch up a steady incline to a barrier of birch trees. A few feet from where you stand, an ancient weeping willow stands proudly with roots deep in the ground. You gaze up at the waving canopy that seems to be on fire in the sunset stained skies. "Intent on standing there all day, Fair One?" A familiar voice chimes behind you. You turn without anxiety, already knowing who it is. Draped in her usual black outfit, Lady Reaper stands quietly waiting your response. She places a hand on her hip and smirks at you. She walks passed you, her tail swaying with her stride, and you catch a glimpse of something moving in the corner of your eye. She turns when you do not follow her. "Looks like she already knows your here." Lady Reaper's voice seems almost sinister when from behind her a tri-colored creature bursts forth from the auburn and gold foliage. The equine trots around her, almost protectively, mane and tail flying. You watch the gracefully creature paw at the ground and prance around almost dancing. Finally, she dimisses you with a snort and nestles herself in the myriad of flowers in the shade of the willow tree.  She looks at you for a moment then turns her attention to Lady Reaper as she approaches. With a welcoming nicker and a bob of her head, the equine nuzzles the cat-morph as she sits next to her. The sight is heart-warming and after a few soft strokes and pats to her bond, Lady Reaper's attention turns to you. "This is Versali's Edge of Shadows, a pony from The Distance Between. The meadow creatures like to call her Shatan for short." Her blue eyes fall back upon the mare who whickers back sleepily. Her smile broadens and she kisses the pony's forehead. Quietly, the feline anthro stands and leads you away. You take a last look at Shatan, watch her yawn and rest her head on the pillow of flowers. "Ah yes, my luck to have found the Realm Keeper of The Distance Between at the Orchard. There was a whole corral full of abandoned Versali Ponies you see." She bows her head in a silent moment of remembrance then nods. "They're not just Ponies though, no, more of a mix of different equine species." Lady Reaper has led you as far as the like by now with your attentive ears listening but your eyes wandering to gaze at the eerily calm water. You notice the sun has nearly fully set and a whispy mist is beginning to slither onto the water, like faeries skating on a mirror. You hear her beginning to hum a song, her eyes closed and a sincerely gentle expression on her face. She stops abruptly. Her eyes flicker open suddenly as she realizes your fixed gaze. "Erm... well, yes, anyways, I think I shall take a cat nap with Shatan." She grins sheepishly and you watch her saunter off into the shadows.
Grassland Realm Entrance Lady Reaper |
