EC | Acheron | Dragon Friend? by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Acheron | Dragon Friend?
Poppy was rather far away from her companions, having picked up her speed to stay nearly parallel with the dragon soaring overhead. It took but only a moment before she saw the beast’s head turn towards her and she slowed to a stop, sand spraying around her as she did so. Her eyes never left the sky as it circled overhead, and for a brief moment she worried it truly was a predator to be concerned with before it suddenly dove for the ground. The creature pulled itself up at the last second, landing with an audible thud despite the fact it looked like it didn’t exert any energy. Great wings splayed as the dragon righted itself, an image that brought an uncomfortable memory front and center, but where she remembered great feathery wings this was instead a pair that was more reminiscent of a bat - even ending in the same claws she’d seen on the tiny creatures. This dragon, however, lost all similarities to a bat once she got past the wings. If it weren’t for the fact she had seen it land
EC | Acheron | Flying Shadow by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Acheron | Flying Shadow
Even in the midst of winter, the cold did little to alleviate the warmth that radiated off the sands below the group’s hooves. A season spent growing winter coats meant that the punishing sun was even more potent - for all of them, really, except the Blight. Thorne was miserable and had spent the last day complaining about the sun, begging someone to block it, which just ended in a sideways glare from Orpheus. The black stallion was suffering the most, panting heavily like his wolven namesakes. Even Poppy had been uncharacteristically quiet, her head lowered to the ground and letting out pathetic groans every few steps. The evenings were even worse. While the sun was up it was blisteringly hot, and while it was down the chill settled into the bones until the group was a huddled mess seeking warmth together. It had been like that for the past three days - sweat in the day, freeze in the night. How anyone could survive out here for any length of time, none of them knew. “You wanted
EC | Acheron | Separation by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Acheron | Separation
It had been a few days since they’d noticed the strange stallion trailing after the herd. The first day he had triggered Star’s wards, the mare startled by someone unknown tripping them. She had been the first one to spot the red and white stranger, but he hadn’t noticed her. Instead he had only seen the rather large herd and seemed to steer somewhat clear. She’d voiced her concerns, even though he was only one stallion, and Acheron had agreed with her to keep an eye on it. By the fourth day, the herd was well aware he was following them. He seemed to be seeking out the foliage that Duvi and Kainan were making for the herd, and it didn’t help that the mare’s steps in particular seemed more inclined to freshen the grass she stepped on in a perfect shape of her hoofprints. Thorne had offered to chase him off, mostly irritated at another stallion near the herd, but Acheron told him to leave it as the stallion hadn’t truly bothered them yet. The fifth day was when the herd had noticed a
EC | Acheron | Outsiders by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Acheron | Outsiders
Acheron had been somewhat annoyed that, by the time the herd had caught up to the pair, both Kainan and Duvi were nowhere to be seen. The entire herd felt deeply unsettled by the hill temple, Poppy remarking on how it felt like a graveyard to her. They waited outside, patiently impatient, staying a fair distance away where the magic of the temple didn’t seem to bother them until finally, blissfully, the two unicorns made their way out. Kai led the way, head held high and proud and before anyone could ask, the ground in front of them was filled with brilliantly green grass and bright flowers. The stallion’s smile was practically blinding at his newfound abilities and the mare at his side just smiled fondly at the feel of the earth beneath her hooves. The herd settled for the night, the foals finding their fill on the fresh grass. Calanthe had taken to picking some of the flowers, assisted by the foals and elated whenever they would grow back as they were picked - courtesy of either
EC | Acheron | Homecoming by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Acheron | Homecoming
It took what felt like weeks for the herd to find the entrance to the temple. They only really rested for the foals sake. They weren’t used to traveling for extensive periods at a time and given they were still growing it was only fair to take breaks. There was an almost nervous energy in the herd, some voicing their concerns about finding the temple, while the two hopeful earth magicians never really lost hope. Something called to them from the deep woods. They were getting closer by the day. It was on the eve of the seventh day that something clicked. Kai took off, zipping past Poppy as that call grew louder. Even the ever lumbering Duvi was hot on his tail, the only thing slowing her down the trees surrounding them. The dark mare almost slammed into Kai when he suddenly stopped, but instead of chastising him the two unicorns were staring in awe at the hill before them. It wasn’t much at first glance, but something about it was warm and inviting. Like coming home. There was a faint
EC | Acheron | On the Road... Again? by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Acheron | On the Road... Again?
The night had remained uneventful. Star’s magic had honestly become a blessing to them. No one really had to stay up to keep watch - it was only if they weren’t tired yet - and because of that everyone was able to get a good night's sleep. The only one who ever stirred was the mare in question when something would pass her wards, opening one eye and flicking an ear to listen to anything big that needed to be worried about. Thankfully it seemed at most to be squirrels, the occasional owl, and once a rabbit. The morning was even less eventful. Calanthe was the first to rise alongside the sun and when the rest of the herd slowly woke up they found the mare standing in the center of the clearing, her physical form flickering in and out as if she was playing with her magic in the sun. No one had the heart to bother her, just letting her bask in the joy and wonder of the sun until it was time to leave. The sun was still rising when the herd finally set off, Poppy once more leading the way
EC | Acheron | A Mother's Love by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Acheron | A Mother's Love
Calanthe seemed all too happy to discuss the various flowers she was picking with Acheron. Despite his best efforts, it was hard to keep track of all her words and he found it hard to keep focused when she kept going. It felt like they’d been there for a few hours, but it couldn’t have been anything but a few minutes before she finally seemed pleased with the flowers she had found. “Well, I’m glad yous foun’ what you want’d,” the stallion offered with a kind smile, handing her the flowers which she took with her own smile - no matter how small it seemed. “I ‘ope, one day, you fin’ somew’ere to call home.” He hadn’t even managed a step before the mare called out to him. He turned, paused mid-step, to look at the sun-colored mare. She seemed to be heavily contemplating on something, looking back towards the forest that surrounded him as if searching for some answer he couldn’t see. He stood in silence, watching her with careful calculation, before she seemed to find what she was