Spectral Visits

The forest floor was littered with leaves, and a light morning dew covered the plants. Eisling had to admit there was some beauty to it, the pale light of morning filtering through the leaves. The mountain air was crisp and fresh, and there was a refreshing feeling to the morning. Part of her hoped that was a sign that she would find Ludivine again today.

It was hard to not lose hope. Ludivine had been by her side since the start of everything. They had been raised together, fought together, and Eisling hoped, reborn together.

This body was still strange to her, still… foreign. The longer heavier tail was a certain adjustment, as well was having a horn. But most of all, she missed the fact that her magic was completely gone. She had spoken with Cyrenne about it at length, and while she could become powerful again, she doubted she would ever touch the magnitude of power she had previously.

Not that it mattered. The hardest part of everything was the feeling of something missing. Like a phantom limb. Being without Ludivine made her feel only half alive.

Eisling wandered the woods without purpose, not entirely watching where she was going, There was an entire world around her but she felt like an outsider, someone without a true purpose. Eisling was lost. She wasn’t sure why she stayed in Espeor; perhaps it was the familiarity of being around Cyrenne again. But it was different than back home. Cyrenne wasn’t the all powerful witch who enchanted items for others. Now she was a simple mare, tending to plants with Liana and moving the earth sometimes.

And having a new ‘sister’.... Her sisterhood had been sacred. Now it felt strange. There was a new dynamic to it. Khaalida reminded Eisling of Synnove in many ways, and Eisling wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

Granted, she had never really taken the time to get to know Khaalida either.

Eisling was so deep in her thoughts she didn’t notice the spectral figure waiting in the grove ahead. She nearly ran into the figure before she realized what was going on, and her head shot up, staring at the strange, half transparent figure of a mare.

“Synnove!” she gasped, convinced she was seeing things. Synnove couldn’t be here, could she? She didn’t look like a Quirlicorn, at least not to Eisling.

“Hello, Sister,” Synnove said with a smile, her voice seeming to come from far away. She looked so solid that Eisling could almost touch her, but the way the light beams just passed through her, and she cast no shadows gave it away.

“How?” was Eisling’s only response.

Synnove smiled serenely, and explained, “It's nearly Samhain. The borders between worlds are thinner.”

Eisling blinked in both surprise and confusion. Synnove laughed at the expression.

“You look good, Eisling. This form suits you,” Synnove commented.

Eisling snorted. “This tail is a menace. And I constantly forget about this horn, and that I don’t have telekinesis anymore. I run into doors with my horn constantly,” Eisling complained.

“You will get used to it,” Synnove replied with her bell-like laugh.

“Cyrenne is here,” Eisling said. “And… and Aurelion.”

Synnove just had a peaceful smile on her face. “I know they are,” she replied. “I have visited their dreams, light touches they would never notice. They are happy with their lives. They finally have peace.”

Eisling looked down. “I figured you would have been mad. Cyrenne helped raise another mare that she calls my sister now. And Aurelion… he is with that mare.”

Synnove looked in the direction of Queensbreak.

“They are happy, and that's all that matters to me,” Synnove said. “Khaalida is a uniquely powerful mare. She is a good match for Aurelion. And Cyrenne is right, she is like a sister to us. I am proud to call her sister, even if she does not know me by name.”

Eisling looked down, feeling a bit ashamed. “I was not kind to her,” Eisling admitted.

“It's a lot of adjustment,'' Synnove said with understanding. “Especially since Ludivine hasn’t quite crossed to this side yet.”

Eisling looked back up sharply at the mention of her wolf. “You have seen her?” she asked urgently.

Synnove nodded. “I found her wandering, looking for you. Her spirit hasn’t quite made it this far yet. But she will be returning to you too.”

Eisling smiled, and something settled in her. Ludivine was coming.

“Thank you,” Eisling said, with respect and gratitude.

“I must be going,” Synnove said with a sad smile. “I just wanted to check up on you; it seemed you were having a hard time adjusting.”

Eisling nodded. “It hasn’t been easy. Are you sure you have to leave so soon?”

Nodding, Synnove turned away from Eisling.

“I will see you again, don’t you worry,” Synnove said cryptically, and as her spectral figure dissipated like mist on the breeze, Eisling heard her words on the breeze.

“Goodbye, Sister.”

With a slight smile, and a lighter heart, Eisling looked up at the sky.

“Goodbye, Sister,” she echoed.