The Ambassador

Savanna awoke feeling anxious the following morning. She lied still in bed with the blankets wrapped around herself like she was enveloped in a tightly-swathed cocoon. She wished she could sleep more, and, with sufficient luck, dream pleasant dreams of home and her past or potential future.

She lied like this, immobile, for some time, counting little cracks in the bedroom's ceiling.

She felt anxious, hesitant to rise out of bed and start making preparations to depart for Cerulia in the west.

A tiny flicker of hope within her wanted to believe wholeheartedly that she and Amethyst would successfully escape this terrible nightmare-like reality and return to Equestria unscathed. Internally, though, she secretly doubted that would happen. She doubted she and her companion could travel across Emperia unimpeded. She doubted her ability to lead Amethyst and herself—in fact, she doubted herself.

Sometimes she reconsidered the idea that she was in a complicated nightmare and that, eventually, she would wake up. Maybe she had suffered some terrible misfortune and had been asleep for a long time, awaiting recovery from a terrible, crippling injury. Maybe she was still at home and hope still remained.

Feeling depressed, Savanna rolled onto her side, refusing to leave the bed.

Being alone with her thoughts wasn't reassuring, though. Nothing was reassuring. Savanna was battling ponies externally and herself internally simultaneously.

Savanna craved the ambrosia Chorilax had shared with her, yearning for the potent drug's calming effects to help her cope with her current situation.

The fire she had ignited the night prior had been reduced to hot ashes and winking coals overnight. The air in the room was warm and welcoming as Savanna lifted herself from the bed and began gathering her belongings, preparing to leave.

Outside of the bedroom in the upstairs hallway, changelings were gathered together in groups, chatting amongst themselves. One group of ponies were sat, isolated, in a corner near a window, giving the changelings a big berth. Savanna greeted some of the changelings politely as she passed and headed down the staircase.

She was about to round the corner and peek into the study to look for Amethyst, but, while distracted, almost ran directly into someone.

"Whoa!" Savanna lurched backwards quickly, barely avoiding an impact. "Am'm sorry, ah wasn't watching where ah was—" She trailed off, realizing it had been Rose who she had almost bumped into.

"It's fine, Savanna."

"Ah, um..." Savanna awkwardly attempted to find a starting point from which to launch into a conversation. "Are you feeling okay? How's your nose?"

Now that attention had been brought to it, Savanna realized Rose's nose was healed and no longer broken. The reminder that restoration magic existed made her unconsciously rub the location where she had been shot. The pain had long since vanished and was now merely a memory.

"Still hurts," Rose responded honestly.

"Ah'm sorry to hear that."

Rose grumbled. "I, uh... I'm sorry about last night."

Savanna looked away, avoiding eye contact. She felt anxious speaking to Rose. Frankly, Rose scared her. She especially disliked how rapidly Rose's mood had shifted. She had progressed from personally and physically attacking Savanna's friends to now speaking to her casually the morning after.

"Look, you saved my life, kid. I haven't forgotten that. I feel like you and I... we haven't—"

"Don't call me kid!" Savanna stood up for herself, pointing accusingly with a hoof.

Rose slightly raised an eyebrow, having not expected Savanna to retort.

Uncomfortable, Savanna took a step backwards. She was tempted to abandon the conversation altogether.

"What 'we' is there? There is none! You're crazy!" Savanna took another step back defensively, concerned that Rose would lash out at her. "Your mood is all over the place, you're constantly brooding and angry all the time! What's wrong with you? Even the changelings treat me better than you do! They're complete strangers!"

"It's none of your business what my problem is." Rose remained quiet and reserved, answering as little as possible. She frowned.

"...Yeah. Ah figured you'd say somethin' like that.

"Ah thought we could be friends with enough work. Now ah'm startin' to think that time we spent together meant nothin' to you at all. Ah thought..." Savanna sighed, disappointed. "Ah thought you cared about what ah said. Ah poured mah heart out for you, because ah cared. Maybe ah care too much. Clearly ya ain't lost sleep thinkin' about that, have ya?"

After waiting a few moments for a response that never came, Savanna dodged around Rose and began walking down the downstairs hallway, pretending she wasn't there to begin with.

Politely, Savanna greeted rebel pony and changeling groups as she weaved through the crowd in the study, searching for her friend. After asking around and thoroughly searching, she determined Amethyst was not in the study and was somewhere else in the house.

Bumping into Jovial Day at the base of the stairs, Savanna saw the opportunity and took it, beginning to chat with her.

"You believe in Harmony, don't ya?" Savanna considered glancing back into the study, but she knew exactly what she would see if she were to—segregated groups of ponies and changelings barely managing to coexist, let alone talk amongst each other and bond.

"Of course," Jovial affirmed. "Changelings and ponies will eventually come together to coexist peacefully. Chorilax and I... we prove that. He and I are close friends. I don't want us to be the first and final example that our species can't exist together under Harmony—I want to see others follow in our hoofsteps."

Savanna hesitated, unsure if she should reveal the truth of what she knew to Jovial.

"Chorilax, um... told me the truth about his relationship with you."

"What‽ Why would he do that?" Jovial Day's eyes widened in panic; it was a facial expression Savanna had never expected to witness on her.

Savanna stammered briefly, struggling to quickly communicate her follow-up statement. "Ah don't think it's wrong. Ah'm proud of both of ya, especially Chorilax for breaking out of his shell. Where ah come from, changelings have started to integrate into pony society, and ah know relationships between them have formed, but it wasn't easy healing a relationship broken years prior. Ah don't think ponies and changelings are incompatible, ah just think they have different mindsets that get in the way."

Jovial released a gentle sigh. "Chorilax... he makes me happy, you know. I enjoy hearing the stories he has to tell. I used to know nothing about changelings and their biology or culture before meeting him. I wasn't taught that, I didn't study it."

"Many ponies probably won't support you, Jovial, but ah want you to know that ah do. That's what Harmony is about, right—creatures coming together?" Savanna smiled.

Jovial Day seemed convinced. She sat back on her haunches, leaning against the wall near the staircase. "I understand you're right, Savanna, I just wish society was different and ponies believed in Harmony again."

"Things will change, ah'm confident in that.

"Chorilax probably won't tell ya," Savanna continued, changing the topic, "so ah'll let ya know now: we shared that bottle of whiskey you gave to him. Ah don't remember much about what happened when we spent that night together, but ah know for certain that he got real silly."

"Really?" Jovial considered this, giggling. "I can't even imagine him acting that way!"

Savanna gently giggled, recalling all she could. "It was... fun," she admitted. "Ah remember having fun that night. The hangover the morning after wasn't worth it, though."

"Alcohol dehydrates you—that's what causes the headaches and fatigue. I recommend you try drinking water in tandem with alcohol next time," Nurse Jovi recommended, giving her professional, medical advice.

"Ah don't intend for there ever to be a next time. That was a one-time thing."

"Fair enough." Jovial nodded. "I'm reassured to hear your first experience with alcohol went well. Acting irresponsibly never leads to good fortune.

"Now I know what to talk about with Chorilax the next available moment we can share alone. I want to hear what he has to say about the experience he shared with you." Jovial gently chuckled at the prospect.

Savanna smiled. She excused herself, traveling upstairs in search of Chorilax.

Passing through the grand bedroom that yielded to the balcony, Savanna glanced in the direction of the large bed. Beneath, she suspected the cardboard boxes full of torn-down Emperian military propaganda posters still lied.

In the corner of the room where she had chatted with the rebel stallion several days prior, the radio rested on the wooden table. It was activated, quietly playing some new, unfamiliar music. Chorilax experimented with the foreign device, trying to deduce how to modify the volume.

Due to, presumably, his annoyance and impatience, his thin, papery wings were extended, fluttering. Maybe he was just stretching and Savanna was overthinking it.

She lingered behind the changeling for a moment, observing his wings with fascination. Chorilax had, in fact, been the first changeling she had ever beheld with her own eyes. Savanna had heard stories of reformed and unreformed changelings and descriptions of their physical features. They, however, hadn't prepared her to witness the majesty that was changeling anatomy: Chorilax's shiny, black exoskeleton, his intimidating, timberwolf-like fangs that had been bared at her before, and, most-importantly, his wings. As delicate as gossamer or paper, they were translucent and imprinted with a unique spiderweb of intricate patterns. They were like ovoidal panes of blue stained glass. Pegasi would probably be quite jealous of such magnificent wings, considering their own were merely made of feathers. Even Night Owl's wings, despite being thin and papery and having a mildly-abrasive texture, were opaque and, therefore, not as stunning.

Savanna could have dedicated more time to studying Chorilax's intriguing wings, but decided not to out of fear of offending him somehow.

"Try the little, circular dial on the left."

Chorilax's wings folded neatly beneath his elytra, then he accepted the advice and twisted the radio's dial, successfully raising its volume so the music could be comfortably listened to. "Thanks. Blasted device."

"Ah'm leavin' today."

"You're traveling to Cerulia, aren't you? Maverick informed me of your plans."

He looked over, and their gazes met. They shared a moment of direct eye contact. Savanna considered, again, how intimidating the changeling's piercing, arctic-blue eyes were. She was thankful she and Chorilax weren't enemies.

"Rose was wrong to antagonize you, Savanna. You have no obligation to stay and should leave this country as quickly as possible. Amethyst, the uh..." He struggled to select an appropriate word, eventually giving up. "...the hatchling, she's accompanying you, isn't she?"

Savanna raised an eyebrow, surprised to hear the accurate assumption. "Filly," she corrected, "and how did ya know?"

"I noticed how you treat each other with such respect, despite that, I believe, you two are merely acquaintances. Am I wrong and you secretly care for her more than that? Maybe you love her? Why would two ponies be so close, otherwise?"

Savanna blinked, not expecting to have been asked such a question. "No, not at all. She and ah are just friends. Ah do care about her and feel some obligation to stick by her side, but just as her friend."

Chorilax nodded. "I believe I understand. Hatchlings aren't immediately independent when they hatch. It's the responsibility of workers to assure that hatchlings remain fed and healthy until they grow enough to receive their first assignment. I suppose that comparison isn't the most accurate, but, regardless, I can understand the obligation one can feel to care for those who need it. Workers must care for hatchlings. They are very cute," he conceded. "You know, for a brief moment, when I was younger and unsure what assignment to claim, I wanted to act as a worker and care for hatchlings. I truly was lost back then."

"Not obligation—love," Savanna corrected. "You can feel love for your friends, too. Changelings never love each other? You work together, don't you? You cooperate?"

"Changelings love their queen," Chorilax replied, "but never each other, and not hatchlings, either. Besides, most changeling harvesters work alone. Infiltration is easier that way."

"Why don't they love each other?"

"It's impious against our queen," Chorilax explained, "and because changelings never form familial, friendly or romantic relationships. Love is an emotion shared personally between individuals that are in those types of relationships, correct? So, acknowledging that, it's impossible for changelings to feel love for one another."

"You say that like ya think it's tragic. Do you?"

"No. It's natural."

"Ya answered that pretty fast."

There was a brief pause as Chorilax decided between remaining silent and replying. "Emotions are complicated. I don't understand why changelings have a natural obligation to pledge loyalty to their queen. Perhaps it's the result of natural intuition native only to changelings. Regardless, when I grew to reach a certain age and ascended beyond being a mere hatchling, I pledged my loyalty to my queen long ago. I served her for many years, yet, despite that, I only successfully completed a few missions as a love harvester in that time. I... have failed her, I suppose, in that regard. And I have definitely failed my queen with my betrayal to her laws. I still revere her greatly, though, and, given the opportunity, would serve her for as long as I were able to. Is that not love?"

"Ah agree love needs respect—among other things—but that's a mighty twisted perspective."

Chorilax listened to the music playing on the radio quietly for a moment, looking away. Savanna appreciated the brief respite from gazing into the changeling's intense eye contact.

"Conversing with you can be frustrating," Chorilax admitted. "but... truthfully, I have enjoyed our time together. Our arguments stimulated my mind. You remind me of Jovi.

"These are... strange times," Chorilax continued. "I don't quite feel as myself. Years ago if I had encountered you, I would have considered you as nothing but food. Jovi enlightened me—and you have as well. I suppose I should thank you."

"Ah think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me." Savanna smiled.

Chorilax's blue eyes widened, brightening slightly as he expressed confusion. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Ah know you would be happy under the influence of Harmony, Chorilax. Ah can envision a future where you and Jovial are integrated into society and are happy."

Chorilax grimaced, looking away. He grunted in acknowledgment of what had been said, refusing to respond for a moment. "If Harmony were to return, it would make Jovi happy, and... I would do anything to see her happy. I will do anything."

"One day it'll be too late, Chorilax," Savanna warned. "You'll approach the end, confused, afraid and angry at no one but yourself. Maybe in those final moments you'll finally have your revelation, but it'll come too late to matter. Ah genuinely believe you should accept Harmony, but if you choose not to, that's okay. That's for you to decide. But stop fighting yourself and make a decision. Loyalty is important, but... only if you feel it for what really matters to you. What really matters."

Chorilax grunted, avoiding eye contact. He hissed angrily, briefly baring his sharp fangs. "I hate Loyalty. I despise the Elements. I wish Jovial had never explained them to me. You ponies act like there exists a golden standard everyone must achieve—and it's too restrictive for edge cases."

"It's not easy determining what you should be Loyal to," Savanna conceded, sighing. "Changelings have a strong bond to their queen, so... ah wouldn't blame you if you chose to remain loyal to her. Ah guess it's unfair of me to suggest that you abandon your old life altogether and try to fit into a pre-determined mold. Like an oven-baked cookie cut from a stencil."

The song on the radio changed. After what felt like an eternity of silence, Chorilax spoke. "Did... you just compare me to a cookie?"

Savanna giggled. "Yeah, ah guess ah did. Ah wasn't thinkin' about what ah was saying."

Unamused, Chorilax shrugged, changing the subject. "I'm sorry about what happened in Queensland."

"No offense taken. Ponies make mistakes—changelings too, ah wager. We miscalculate, screw up and learn. It's normal. Everyone does it."

"Miscalculate," Chorilax repeated, looking away as he thought.

Savanna hesitated before launching into a different conversation topic. "How did you two meet, you and Jovial?"

"That... is a long and private story."

"Come on," Savanna gently encouraged him to speak. "Ah'm not tryin' to be rude, but who else will ya tell that story to?"

Chorilax silently nodded in acknowledgment. "I met her several months ago in a hospital in Cerise. She healed me after I, er..."

Realizing his summary of the story wasn't sufficiently detailed, Chorilax began again. "At the time, the revolution wasn't as organized as it is now. In fact, it was in its juvenile stages of development. This was so long ago that my queen wasn't aware of the plight of Emperian ponies living under their new, oppressive leader. She assigned me my final job as a love harvester and ordered I travel to Cerise to seek a target.

"It was in that city's streets where I encountered two changelings I knew. We weren't on the same mission—"

"Friends of yours?" Savanna wondered aloud. "Or partners?"

"No. They weren't my friends, nor my partners. I never worked with them before. I only knew their names and preferred pony disguises because they were infamous for being very hot-headed and needlessly aggressive in our hive.

"Somehow, they had managed to instigate a brawl with several ponies in the street when I arrived. I don't know who started it and I don't know who emerged victorious. I only know that when I tried to physically become involved and stop those idiots from fighting and potentially revealing their and my own concealed identities, someone, confused in the frenzy, bucked me directly in the head. The blow chipped my horn," Chorilax remarked, "but after carefully filing and sharpening it anew, I discovered it still functioned normally."

Savanna winced, imagining how painful it would be to be bucked in the head by a fully-grown, angry stallion or changeling. "Ah'm sorry that happened to ya."

"Don't feel sympathy. The rest of the night onward from that point was a blur. I scarcely remember what happened, or in how much pain I was. What I know for a fact is that Jovi saved my life."

Chorilax paused, his eyes narrowing as he frowned, considering something he had never considered before. "I never considered this before, but, as far as I'm aware, changeling anatomy is very different from pony anatomy, and considering how unicorns have probably never had an opportunity to heal a changeling prior to that moment, she... truly did gamble in her attempt to save my life. I really am indebted to her.

"Regardless, after I was rendered unconscious, I later awoke in a hospital bed in a Cerise hospital after being revived by Jovial. She swore to me that she tried healing me for hours through the night and until dawn. I believed her then, and I still do now.

"I'm able to recall the following week after I first awoke in the hospital bed clearly. That was the first time I had ever, er..." Chorilax hesitated. Savanna detected embarrassment in his facial expression.

"That was the first night I hugged someone. Jovi, in her excitement, embraced me after witnessing me stand on my own for the first time since I was injured in that fight. My mind had been scrambled. The first time I attempted to stand on my own before fully recovering, I fell over. I was stubborn and didn't try only once, but none of the attempts were ever successful until a week had passed of mental recovery.

"After witnessing me successfully walk again, Jovi suggested I stay in the hospital for at least another week to fully recover. Coincidentally, though, that night would be the final night I spent in that hospital. The following afternoon, I awoke to discovery everypony had vanished. It was... terrifying, admittedly. Witnessing the once lively, bustling place transform was bizarre.

"Immediately, I feared for Jovi's safety. Fortunately, she was one of the few ponies who elected to stay behind. That was the day thousands of ponies originating from all across the city had gathered to protest on Main Street. I don't recall why they intended to gather originally, but I understand they weren't all nurses or doctors. Jovial told me musicians, engineers, teachers and other ponies attended the protest too.

"I digress. Jovi remained by my side through it all. After the CED called in reinforcements and the military arrived, some of the ponies protesting were shot. Jovial and I evacuated during the resulting chaos and fled here.

"When we arrived at Juniper, I had decided that my mission was a failure and I should report back to my queen to alert her of what had transpired. Jovi convinced me not to. We... she, er..."

Chorilax looked sheepish for a brief moment. "She had devised a plan to help me obtain love magic to return to the hive. I won't detail exactly what happened that night, but... I believe I'm the first changeling to have ever drawn love magic from a host who willingly gave it. I also believe I'm the first undisguised changeling to have ever kissed a pony.

"That is how I earned my ambrosia, by the way. It's Jovial's. That's why it's special to me."

Savanna giggled, enjoying listening to the scandalous story.

"I got carried away expressing my emotions there. That's how I met Jovi," Chorilax explained. He smiled dimly, reminiscing. "That mare was the first pony to treat me with kindness. You're the second."

Chorilax shifted his weight during another pause in the conversation, subtly stretching. "I've heard rumors from the rebels that ponies are fleeing across the southern ocean to Era to escape the war—due to fear, cowardice or something else entirely, I'm not sure. I haven't given Jovi this advice yet, but I think she should flee to Era. Not only that, but I want to accompany her. It may be cowardly for me to retreat and attempt to evade the punishment I know my queen would inflict upon me if word ever leaked that I betrayed changeling law, but... I care about Jovi so much. It's my duty to protect her. I'm willing to live as a coward and an outcast if I must in order to be with her."

"When are you leaving?"

"I'm not sure if I even will, to be honest. I have, still, assignments left to complete. Maverick ordered me to send word to Queen Silver that Queen Melody will soon reclaim authority and control over Emperia. Before that, though, she could make their alliance official and transform the revolution into something more true and realized. That hinges on you delivering the necessary information to Queen Melody, of course. That should be no problem, considering you will already be speaking with her.

Assuming they both agree to form an official alliance, I've already devised a title for their bond: 'The Royal Coalition'. Afterward, with the theoretical blessing of both queens, Maverick, I and Rose will plan how to invade the capital and finally retake the throne, capturing or killing Valor in the process. Personally, I think he should be executed," Chorilax affirmed, "but a vote will probably be held to decide his fate. That is assuming the slippery bastard can be captured."

Shivers ran down Savanna's spine; the finality of Chorilax's words were impactful. She couldn't think of an appropriate way to respond. The concept of the rebels finally retaking the throne and working to rebuild the country and heal the wounds caused by war was tantalizing. It sounded like an unrealistic plan, though. Everything had been planned without room for improvisation in the event that something went wrong.

"Good luck."

"Good luck to you as well, Savanna. We all entrust you with the task of delivering this message."

"You can rely on me." Savanna stood, sensing the conversation was drawing to a conclusion. "Amethyst and ah will let Queen Melody know everything.

"Thank you, by the way. Ah know it isn't easy for you to talk about your emotions, so ah'm glad you had the courage to share your thoughts with me. Thank you. It means a lot to me. Ah... do consider us friends, even if you don't. Ah wish we could be."

Savanna took a step forward, wanting to reach out for a hug. She raised a foreleg, but quickly dropped it onto the floor again, regretting even conceiving the idea.

She was surprised when Chorilax stepped forward and extended a hoof. He placed it on one of her shoulders, patting. He nodded silently, expressing emotion without words. Savanna nodded in response, nodding a farewell. She smiled.

She left the room feeling content.

Downstairs, Savanna was about to continue her search for Amethyst but peeked into the house's kitchen and noticed a pair of ponies were cooperating together to prepare ingredients to make food. It would soon be time for a meal.

Savanna observed as the two unicorns effortlessly juggled ingredients and tools with levitation magic, doing several tasks simultaneously. Carrots, onions, green onions, potatoes, leafy greens and other ingredients were being chopped precisely and deposited into a large cauldron filled with water.

As Savanna observed the skilled chefs prepare the ingredients of a hardy soup, she was reminded of her mother and her cooking. She was a mare of many talents—cooking, farm labor and being an expert mom, among other things.

Savanna thought of the home-cooked meals she had eaten. She recalled her mother's distinct, heavy accent. She smiled.

"Make way! Coming through." Together, the pair of chefs ordered ponies to move out of the way and used their combined levitation magic to hoist the, presumably, heavy cauldron to the study, where it was then secured above a fire crackling in the fireplace.

When the soup had finished boiling, Savanna waited in line and poured a bowl for herself, carrying it as she resumed her search for her friend. She checked the areas she hadn't yet searched in, peeking out of the front doorway to check outside.

Eventually, Savanna peeked out of the back doorway and noticed Amethyst sitting outside at one of the wooden table reading her mystery novel.

It was cold outside. Savanna resisted the urge to shiver as she trotted forward, depositing the bowl of soup she had been holding in her teeth onto the wooden table. "Mornin'," Savanna greeted her friend, her mouth no longer full. "This is for you."

"Good morning," Amethyst greeted politely, smiling, "and thank you!" She set her book aside and nudged the bowl closer to herself, poking at the ingredients within with a levitated fork.

When Savanna returned after pouring herself a bowl of soup, she took a seat across the table from Amethyst, setting her bowl before herself.

"Cold today," Savanna commented.

"It'll be winter soon. It's only going to get worse. It may feel more bearable once we start walking."

They chatted infrequently. Savanna was contemplating. She decided that her final farewell to all of her friends had been appropriate, except for her conversation with Rose. She had tried earnestly to befriend Rose, but that mare simply wasn't willing to cooperate. That wasn't Savanna's fault.

"I'm not excited to leave."

"Ah'm also feelin' anxious," Savanna admitted.

"It's not just that." Amethyst gazed down into her bowl, poking at the various, assorted ingredients in her soup, delaying and not finishing the meal. "It feels safe here. I like this town. There's so many rebels and civilians here. If we leave..."

Amethyst raised her head, gazing across the table at Savanna. "How many soldiers did you see, Savanna? How many of them were in the parade?"

"Hundreds, or maybe thousands," Savanna estimated. "Ah don't know. Ah remember the huge crowd of ponies watching were all cheering. Live music was being played, too. It was hard to take in all them details at once. So many horseshoes stompin'..."

"There are so many soldiers out there, Savanna. It's safe here. We... don't have to leave right now, do we? Maybe it would be safer if we stayed put?"

"Nopony knew who ah was or tried to stop me when ah was in Queensland," Savanna insisted. It wasn't entirely true, but not entirely a lie, either. "Ah did get into an argument with this one mare, but that's a whole 'nother story. We'll be fine. We just gotta act like normal kids and not draw attention to ourselves."

"Normal?" Amethyst sighed, looking down at the table. "What is normal, anymore?"

Savanna nodded silently, acknowledging what had been said.

"I don't think I could go back to living a normal life even if I tried..." Amethyst continued, brooding. Her ears laid back sadly.

"We're gonna be outta here soon. You can forget about all this," Savanna suggested, "and move on."

"Could you forget about any of this?" Amethyst demanded. When Savanna predictably neglected to reply, Amethyst threw one of her hooves forward, gesticulating. "Don't just shut up and stare at me or somewhere else like you usually do—answer me!"

Forced to consider the question she had been asked, Savanna broke eye contact with her friend and looked away, frowning. Not only had she spoken automatically without considering her own words, but it had been hypocritical and unhelpful. Savanna, the pony who sometimes acted secretive or dispirited, served advice she, herself, didn't believe.

in truth, Savanna had almost forgotten. She knew the relatively-peaceful state of mind couldn't last forever, though. The fun she had with Chorilax had almost disguised her internal, hidden feelings. Having deep conversations with Chorilax about the purpose of life, drinking with him, cuddling with Amethyst, saving Rose's life only for her to betray Savanna's blind loyalty with hostility—did any of it matter? Did her memories of home matter? Did her hopes? Did anything matter in comparison to how evil and terrible and ignorant ponies in Emperia could be...

...herself included?

Without her consent, Savanna began recalling the anger, surprise and pain on the face of the CED stallion she had shot. She recalled his voice. She remembered the way he had lied in the mud, motionless, with his mane swaying from a passing breeze.

That could have been her in that moment of hysteria. Savanna had risked her life to save a wanted mare who betrayed her in the end—it could have been her lying there in the mud and rain. Would Rose have abandoned her and fled to save her own hide?

Maybe it should have been Savanna after all.

"Amethyst, ah, um..." Feeling shameful and physically ill, Savanna couldn't find the words to speak. She hung her head low, avoiding the gaze of her friend.

She didn't want to remember. She wanted so desperately to accept her own advice, to move on and forget. Amethyst, her friend, was sitting directly in front of her. Savanna could move, she could leave the chair she was sitting on and stand up and move forward to comfort her friend and tell her that things would be alright. Things would be alright if they just stayed together and remained Loyal to one another. But Savanna couldn't move.

"Savanna."

Savanna raised her head, gazing in the direction she had heard her name being called. Maverick stood beside her at the table, assuming a tall, straight stance as he prepared to give orders. When he noticed Savanna and Amethyst's sad facial expressions, though, he hesitated, raising an eyebrow. Only concerned with business, he offered a quick remark, lacking true sympathy for either filly.

"Sorry to interrupt. Savanna, I've called a stallion I am in close contact with who lives on the western coast. He confirmed he's able to provide a boat for your transport."

After waiting for appraisal that never came, Maverick continued.

"A word of warning for you both: nopony knows how concentrated military or CED presence in Cerulia has grown since the queen's exile. What once had been a modest allocation of guards could now have grown to be a small army. Be careful."

Savanna barely managed to register the information that had been delivered to her.

"Got it."

Maverick nodded. Having delivered his message and fulfilled his purpose, he turned, withdrawing back into the house.

"I'm sorry if you thought I was angry, Savanna," Amethyst apologized. "I'm not. I'm just... frustrated."

Savanna gazed across the table at her friend. She wanted to smile and assure her things would be okay, but she wasn't certain that was even true at the moment.

She felt like a migrating bird flying unconsciously on autopilot at the head of a V-formation, traveling hundreds of miles. Many steps of her journey so far had felt unconscious. Savanna was moving, but was she really in control?

Had she really shot that stallion...?

"Can we leave now, Savanna? I think I'm ready. I want to start walking and clear my mind."

Savanna met Amethyst's gaze with her own. "Yeah. We really should get moving."

Amethyst didn't finish her soup. They left their dishes outside. Briefly, Savanna considered how it was a rude gesture, but she made no attempt to fix her mistake.

Inside, Savanna gathered her belongings and assured that nothing was missing or had been misplaced. Before she donned her rain poncho, she hesitated, acknowledging how thin it was and how vulnerable it was to windchill. She searched the house one final time for her friend and found him in the study.

Chorilax, though, stubbornly refused to give them winter clothing, affirming the rebels were already undersupplied and needed as much clothing as possible.

"Come on," Savanna bargained, "ya owe me one small favor by now, right?"

Chorilax shook his head silently, insistent.

Disappointed, Savanna returned to Amethyst to deliver the bad news.

"We could build a fire if it doesn't rain soon," Amethyst suggested.

"It'll have to do." Savanna tried not to sound too disappointed.

Savanna slung her satchel's strap over her shoulder and slipped her rain poncho on overtop. Dressed, she waited for Amethyst to give the all-clear before they could leave. She noticed her friend had also packed a saddlebag full of personal belongings, but Savanna neglected to ask what was inside for brevity's sake.

When she opened the front door, a blast of invading cold air made Savanna shiver. Amethyst, standing beside her, exhaled sharply in reaction to the weather outdoors. "It's not too late to go back inside..."

Savanna didn't respond, convinced that she would never make progress if she didn't start moving.

Citizens of Juniper stared as Savanna passed through town, but she paid them no mind. she was relived to finally have a friend walking beside her. She had never been afraid of the ponies in town harassing or harming her, but she respected the philosophy of safety being amplified by grouping together.

The trees growing atop the tall ridge to the right on the western outskirts of town rained golden and red leaves down, blanketing the dirt road. Some danced in the air, roused by the cold breeze. Casually, Savanna wondered when was the last time she had danced. She distinctly remembered trying and failing to teach her friend Spotlight how to perform a particularly-challenging western dance. Unfortunately, it had been too much too soon for the inexperienced filly.

Left, tall grasses and Typha grew adjacent to the lake. Ringing the circumference of the body of water was a light frost. The water was beginning to freeze.

Autumn was beautiful. Despite the fact there was no magical flora in sight to capture, Savanna stopped to take pictures. For once, her companion accompanying her consented and even encouraged her.

"Chorilax told me magical plants are disappearing," Savanna spoke, making conversation. "Males for a real borin' picture."

"Animals too," Amethyst confirmed. "It's... sad, especially knowing there's nothing ponies can do right now to help them.

"I heard a rumor that somepony in town saw a snow-white Mesmerizer pup foraging for food near the lake recently."

"A... what now?" Savanna raised an eyebrow, confused. Quickly, though, she recalled an entry in a guide dedicated to magical animals that she had read. Mesmerizers were magical animals, distant relatives to wolves that had evolved a unique defense mechanism to ward off threats.

"Mesmerizer," Amethyst repeated. "Their pups are cute. They look like little baby fawns with their horns."

"Ah've seen pictures," Savanna confirmed. "Do ya know Caravi?"

"Everypony knows what those are." Amethyst frowned thoughtfully. "I hope we don't bump into a Caravis. Or a flock.

"Ah did 'bout a week ago. Not a flock, but it did try to eat me."

"Really?" Impressed, Amethyst's eyes widened. Immediately, though, she made an assumption, assuming the worst. "Y - you didn't shoot it to escape safely, did you...?"

"No." Savanna shook her head firmly. "Ah didn't even consider that at the time. Ah just got real lucky and managed to escape with mah life. Ah did manage to take a picture of one of its fledglings, though."

Amethyst stopped in the middle of the road, intrigued. She looked over. "Can I see?"

Savanna swept her rain poncho out of the way and reached into her satchel, drawing out the little bundle of photographs she had been collecting. She flipped through them, selecting the photo of the Caravis fledgling. Its scary eyes were glaring and its mouth was open as it hissed, revealing its juvenile teeth. Savanna offered the photo to her friend.

Amethyst levitated the photograph, taking a closer look. When she was finished, she returned it to her friend. "Wow! How did you...?"

Savanna placed it and the other photographs back within her satchel and closed the flap, adjusting her bag's strap. She started from the beginning, recounting the events leading up to her encounter with the Caravis and its fledglings as it attacked her for stepping too close to its nest.

As they talked, they approached a fork in the road. To the right, the road led up a hill gradually in the direction of Queensland. To the left was territory Savanna had yet to explore.

They turned left at the crossroads.

"Its body was too big to squeeze between the tightly-knit trees—especially with them huge wings—so ah was safe inside the forest 'til nightfall..." Savanna trailed off. "Now that ah think about it, we're gonna be outta road by the time ah'm done tellin' this story."

Despite her comment, the road, in fact, continued to stretch onwards into the distance. The trees of the forest almost seemed to stretch upwards and inwards, reaching toward each other over the road. Savanna had contracted tunnel-vision.

She chuckled. "Maybe you should just read my journal. Make it a whole lot easier."

They continued to chat back and forth. Savanna was enjoying her friend's company so much that she almost neglected to notice the thin, vertical plume of smoke snaking through the sky, visible through the leaves of the trees above.

"Do ya see that too?"

Amethyst stopped walking, gazing up into the sky as she observed the plume of smoke continue to rise, contorting in a gentle breeze.

"That smoke could be anything, Savanna. We should just leave it be and keep following this road and head right past."

"It could be friendly ponies! Don't you want to take a break from walking? It's cold out here. We could at least go take a look," Savanna prodded, struggling to remain optimistic. Still, internally, she knew her friend was correct. Being paranoid was the smart thing to do if they wanted to remain safe and out of harm's way.

Amethyst whined audibly, exasperated. "This is a dumb idea. I'm not tired of walking yet."

Savanna perceived her friend's reply as a urge for her to move forward. It was only when Savanna took a few steps off of the main trail and began following a thinner path that she began to sense a vague sensation of dread. Maybe Amethyst had been right—maybe it was a dumb idea to leave the main road.

Fortunately, Savanna and Amethyst's fears had been for naught. The thin trail led to a wide, flat clearing of open ground. An isolated temple stood in the center of the clearing. The smoke that Savanna and her friend had spotted earlier lazily rose from a chimney.

Despite being small and constructed mostly of wood, Savanna knew it was a shrine dedicated to the sun and moon goddesses. She recognized the gold dual star-and-moon symbol that was suspended from a pointy spike atop the temple's roof.

"That symbol looks familiar..." Amethyst commented, squinting as she focused, trying to get a better look from a distance.

Savanna was relieved they had discovered a place where they could take shelter from the cold weather. Still, she remained vigilant. "Can ya stand on mah back and peek into one of them windows?"

When Amethyst nodded, agreeing to cooperate, Savanna trotted over and positioned herself below one of the shrine's colorful glass windows. She planted her hooves into the dirt firmly and held her body steady as Amethyst climbed up onto her back and utilized the extra height to peek into one of the windows.

"What do ya see?"

"There's ponies inside," Amethyst confirmed. "A lot of them. They're not soldiers, though, or CED."

Savanna grunted as Amethyst hopped off her back and landed onto the ground safely. "Easy!"

"Sorry!"

Savanna whistled, stretching her legs one at a time. "No big deal. Ah'm just a little stiff, is all. Well, should we knock?"

"It'll probably be warm inside," Amethyst deduced, "and, frankly, that's all I care about."

Savanna nodded in agreement.

Together, they climbed a few wooden steps toward the shrine's front entrance. A loudly-creaking board below one of Savanna's hooves made her hesitate, lifting the hoof that had triggered the noise.

Immediately, the ponies inside scrambled around chaotically in reaction to the noise. Hushed orders were briefly exchanged. An old stallion slowly cracked open the heavy, creaky door, peeking his head outside. Witnessing two fillies on the doorstep, he opened the door completely, no longer suspicious of who was outside.

The stallion looked as old and decrepit as the shrine he stood in. His height had shrunken with age, and he had lost some hair in his mane. His clothing identified him as a preacher; his wrinkled orange-and-blue robe was imprinted with the symbol of the goddesses. He looked old, wise and the opposite of intimidating.

"Please, enter," the old stallion suggested at once, stepping aside to make room. "It's quite cold outside today."

Grateful to see a friendly face, Savanna entered the shrine without a second thought, taking a look around.

Despite being comparatively-rudimentary as opposed to the magnificent shrine's ruins Savanna had witnessed in Cerise, the one she currently stood in was still highly decorated. Orange-and-blue banners hung symmetrically from the ceiling, along with a decorative, hanging chandelier made of bright, polished crystal. Seats and chairs that had once been organized in rows had been shoved aside and stacked neatly or broken down for firewood. Small bookshelves adorning the walls between the tall, thin, vertical windows were all packed with the same few, identical books. On one of the longer walls of the rectangular shrine, a huge stone fireplace sheltered an ignited fire that helped keep the shrine feeling warm and safe.

Savanna padded through the big room, her hooves creating subtle thumps against a strip of carpet running through the center of the room. It continued onwards, past the fireplace and up a small flight of stairs to a raised platform where a lectern stood.

"Where did everypony go?" Savanna asked, curious, not spotting any obvious hiding spots in the room. There were no tall dressers or bedframes. The rafters above were composed entirely of thin planks of wood, unbefitting for any pegasi attempting to perch.

The old preacher stepped up onto the platform and assumed his position behind the lectern. "This place of worship had never experienced emptiness for long stretches of time," he explained, ignoring the question, "before the war. And now, still, ponies come and go, seeking shelter or comfort. Ponies like you two."

Amethyst silently looked around, taking in the sights, then left Savanna's side and went to investigate one of the bookshelves.

Realizing she may never have a better opportunity, Savanna decide to finally ask a few questions that she had been wondering for a while.

"Are the goddesses real?"

"They are as real as you or I," the old preacher replied. "Once upon a time, years ago, they walked amongst us ponies, here, in ancient Emperia. Old tales suggest that the goddesses were capable of performing miraculous acts no unicorn or magic could ever hope of replicating. The reason they vanished is unknown. Perhaps our ancestors failed to appropriately appreciate the miracles they performed."

"So if the goddesses were real at one point, where did they go when they disappeared? Why haven't they ever returned?"

The preacher gently nodded, as if he had anticipated Savanna's question. "Nopony knows."

Savanna paused, pondering. She had heard stories and firsthand accounts of Discord's, the God of Chaos's, abilities. She understood his powers were well beyond what any alicorn pony was capable of.

The idea that multiple gods or goddesses had once wandered the world and performed miracles was fascinating and terrifying. Many years ago, Discord had singlehandedly frozen Equestria in a state of havoc with his chaotic powers. The world needed only one god, not more.

"They... weren't alicorns, were they?"

"No. Luminescence and Obysious merely assumed the physical forms of alicorns. According to all known legends and accounts, ponykind has never witnessed the true forms of the goddesses."

Despite having her questions answered promptly and clearly, Savanna felt unsatisfied. Everything in Emperia was foreign and distant, yet faintly-recognizable. Nothing made her miss Equestria more than Emperia reminding her of what she was missing at home. The retired princesses Celestia and Luna never abandoned their subjects.

"Perhaps you could find the time to consult the scriptures of old?" The preacher recommended, motioning to one of the bookcases lining the walls. "They have been translated from the olden languages for the sake of convenience.

"Sources of comfort are difficult enough to rely on in these troubled times. Some ponies pursue faith. It is my responsibility to guide those ponies."

Savanna shook her head. "Ah'm 'fraid not, sir," she politely insisted. "Mah friend and ah aren't here to hide out until the war is over. We're only stoppin' to warm ourselves up."

"Very well." The preacher nodded understandingly. "Everypony is welcome here, regardless of their relationship with the goddesses."

He stomped onto the wooden floor with a hoof, creating a loud bang, then swept a portion of the long carpet aside. "You can come out now, everypony. It's safe."

A camouflaged trapdoor, once revealed, swung upwards and open. Ponies stepped outwards from the concealed staircase. Presumably, they were the same ponies Amethyst had spotted from outside through the window.

Savanna was relieved when she recognized some familiar faces from Queensland. Ginger and Roly Poly, the two foals, were safe, along with their mother. Savanna recognized some rebel ponies and disguised changelings. It seemed a few creatures had decided—or were ordered—to relocate to this isolated shrine.

There were new faces. There was a young mare who looked like she was from an island, judging by her vivid hair colors and tropical-flower cutiemark.

Savanna was surprised when she noticed one of the ponies she didn't recognize was wearing a military winter uniform. He even still donned the standard steel horseshoes on his hooves. The pegasus stallion looked awkward and out of place. While everypony fanned out and formed small groups, the lone stallion flew up to where the chairs had been stacked and claimed one for himself. He landed and placed the chair in an isolated corner, sitting by himself.

Savanna was so curious that she approached the stallion with little hesitation, certain that he wouldn't try to harm her in front of countless witnesses.

Indeed, the stallion was not hostile. He intentionally avoided Savanna's eye contact for a moment as she approached before recognizing that was staring at him and clearly wanted something.

"What do you need, kid?"

"Are you...?" Savanna failed to finish her question, trailing off. The stallion was wearing the same uniform that she had witnessed the soldiers wearing at the military parade in Queensland.

The stallion didn't reply for a moment. He swallowed heavily, glancing away. "No. Not anymore."

"Why are you here? Why are you... alone?"

"It's obvious, isn't it? I fled. I left my unit.

"If you're going to accuse me of being a terrible pony for abandoning my country and all Emperians in their time of need, save it. I've heard that enough from ponies." The stallion glowered, looking down at the floor.

Savanna shook her head. "No, ah wasn't gonna say that at all."

When the stallion raised his head again and discovered that Savanna was still standing in front of him and staring, he blinked, confused. "Why are you still standing there? What do you want?"

"Why did ya desert your post?"

The stallion sighed, glancing away as he considered how to reply. "Why do you care?"

"It... seems to really be botherin' ya a whole lot. And 'sides, you're the first soldier ah've met who hasn't tried to, er... hurt me in some way. Ah wanna know more about y'all."

Savanna bit her lip, uncomfortable by the awkward silence that followed.

Eventually, the stallion narrowed his eyes, grimacing. "You're barking up the wrong tree, kid. I don't know jack about what goes through the heads of some of the ponies I used to work with. Some of the things I've seen... and been ordered to do... are unbelievable. The preemptive attack on the changelings in their hive, our presence in Cerulia, then the chaos in Cerise. I fled after my officer ordered me to fire into the crowd of protesters there a few months ago. That was the last straw for me. I refused. I refused to do that.

"If you had any family or friends there, I'm... sorry. I didn't expect things to get so out of control. I didn't know we were going in to try to clear such a massive crowd.

"It should have been the CED's job, anyway. They shouldn't have let so many ponies gather together in the first place. Then again, they were lacking equipment and training—still are. Even if I hadn't been there as a witness, though, I still would have surrendered my Loyalty to the military anyway. You have to be in a real fucked-up mindset to be a soldier in this country. Or... maybe all you need to be is brainwashed like I was."

The stallion fell still and quiet, failing to elaborate.

"Why did you enlist in the first place?"

When she asked the question, Savanna immediately regretted it, realizing her tone had sounded accusatory. She expected to see anger in the stallion's expression, but all she detected was sadness.

"I was tricked," he conceded. "I was a fool, same as everypony else. Dumb and impressionable. I took the lies the propaganda spread as truth and pledged my Loyalty to a cause undeserving. I actually thought I could make a difference and serve my country in a meaningful way. I thought being a soldier was about order and power. Instead, I was ordered to terrorize ponies, march in those stupid parades and... kill ponies, most probably innocent to a degree."

Savanna laid her ears back sadly. She had previously been content knowing that one thing in Emperia was certain: the CED and military were the enemy. Now, she was unsure of even that.

"Ah think ah, um..." Savanna trailed off, looking away. Revealing the honest truth was difficult. It didn't help that after listening to the stallion's sad story, she was feeling sensitive and emotional.

"Ah think ah killed somepony... CED... ah shot him."

The stallion's eyebrows dipped low in a deep frown. He pursed his lips. "Why?"

"The situation, it got out of control. Ah was travelin' with this mare, and they were tryin' to capture the both of us, but... ah stopped them."

"There are a lot of wanted ponies. There's been so much chaos recently because of them. I knew somepony in a unit who were ordered to capture a mare last month... None of them reported back."

"The rebels, they want Harmony. Don't you think... it's worth a try? You should help them. From what ah've heard, they need as much help as they can get."

"I left, kid," the stallion insisted. "It's over for me. My motivation is spent. I don't want any part in this fight anymore."

Savanna sat back on her haunches and gazed down at the floor, quietly ruminating.

"What's your name?"

"Torrential Downpour. I was a weather-pegasus years ago before Valor ordered the weather to be automated by a magic spell."

Savanna glanced at the stallion's cutiemark. It was a depiction of a few small rainclouds deploying an overwhelming amount of rain.

"I didn't make any real friends when I was in the military, but my officer called me Torrent. It's the short version of my name."

"Savanna," Savanna introduced herself. "Dry Savanna. Ah was a farmin' pony before comin' here. Ah still am at heart. Ah'm goin' home eventually." Savanna sighed. "Eventually..."

"Why are you here?"

"What?" Savanna blinked, not comprehending the unexpected question. "What do ya mean?"

"You should be taking shelter at home, not wandering. You don't strike me as a rebel pony, you're a little... soft, and young, no offense."

Savanna nodded in agreement. "No offense taken—it's true. Mah friend and ah are headin' west. Don't want to pick any fights, we're deliverin' a message to Queen Melody asking if she agrees to the idea of forming an alliance with the changeling queen and combining their strengths."

"The rebels are planning to reinstate the queen? The changelings are... what‽ The changelings want to cooperate?" Torrent's eyes widened in surprise.

"There are a few changelings in this room right now, actually. That pony over there ain't actually a pony. Ah met 'em in Queensland." Savanna looked in the direction of one of the disguised changelings she recognized from Queensland and raised a hoof, waving. The changeling noticed her looking his way and politely nodded in greeting.

Torrent absorbed the influx of new information before speaking again. "You... trust them? The changelings?"

Savanna thought of Chorilax and her escapades with him. She thought of how he had saved her life and how she had saved his, too, in Queensland after the failed assassination. She recalled when they had gotten drunk together. She smiled dimly. "Yeah. Ah'm friends with one. They seem to be okay folk."

"How can you be friends with one of them? They're..." Torrent trailed off, altering his sentence. "They used to be enemies of all ponykind!"

"Used to be," Savanna echoed, raising a hoof in objection. "Could return to being enemies again in the future, ah'm not blind. For now, though, they're allies."

"So you're telling me their queen made a proposal and you just expect her and the changelings to keep their promise?"

"Yeah. It's a long story, but... circumstances recently may be motivating the queen to act more humbly than a changeling queen might otherwise." Savanna considered the limited information Chorilax had shared with her regarding the massacre of changelings and their previous queen. They, as a species, could potentially be low in population and not yet prepared for warfare, even if they desired it. Fortunately, it seemed Queen Silver was wise and understood the consequences of further aggression. Now was the time for diplomacy.

"From what I've seen, changelings can be gullible brutes who follow their queen's orders without question. They could easily betray our trust and backstab us."

"You're one to talk." Savanna raised an eyebrow accusingly.

Torrent scowled. He changed the topic. "There'll be many ponies who won't accept Queen Melody being reinstated. I'm not so hot on the idea, either. Valor could be leading the country far worse. How can you be sure Melody will be a better ruler? Why fight for change if it isn't guaranteed to be an improvement?"

"Harmony existed when she still held the throne."

"Harmony?" Torrent raised an eyebrow.

Savanna frowned, saddened. "You've never heard of Harmony?"

"I haven't heard anypony talk about that in a long time. I've... forgotten, mostly, by now."

"Harmony did exist," Amethyst affirmed, stepping beside Savanna from behind. Apparently, she had been eavesdropping on the conversation. "I used to have friends and... live a normal life.

"It's peace. Harmony is peace; it's right there in the name. No war, no hate," Amethyst clarified. "I know no one wants this war—not even the military, probably."

"Well, like I told your friend, kid, they're fools just following orders. There isn't much anypony can do to stop that train now that it's gained so much momentum." Torrent sighed.

The stallion leaned back in the chair he was sitting in, closing his eyes. Savanna and Amethyst exchanged a glance. Apparently, their conversation with him had drawn to a close.

"We can leave soon, Savanna, whenever you're ready. I'm already feeling better."

Savanna shook her head. "Ah think ah'm gonna take today off, Amethyst. Ah'm gonna read this book ah've been haulin' around for a while now."

"You trust these ponies?"

"Ah know some of 'em from Queensland. The new guy—he seems alright." She motioned to Torrent with a hoof. "Dangerous ponies don't typically spill the beans like he did just now."

Amethyst shrugged, not attempting to argue. "Let's stay close together. A few hours here couldn't hurt, I guess. And I would like to finish my book."

Savanna swept her gaze across the large room, seeking potential spots for her and her friend to claim. They decided on a spot adjacent to the fireplace. It would be warm, and the fire would emit enough light to comfortably read by once the sun set.

Savanna undressed, placed her satchel aside and laid down with her legs folded beneath herself to get comfortable. Finally, she had found time to begin reading the book about pyrokinesis that she had selected from the library in Cerise.

"'A brief study of'... what?" Amethyst exclaimed, incredulous. Apparently, she had read the title of Savanna's book over her shoulder. "You like that sort of stuff? That looks academic. Where'd you find that thing?"

Savanna giggled. "Ah told ya ah like magic!"

Amethyst smiled, amused. She sat back on her haunches beside Savanna, placing one of her hooves on top of her own bag of belongings. "Yeah. It's a shame that's not a book about restoration magic—I would have enjoyed reading it myself. That's magic I want to learn some time in the future.

"There's... a lot of stuff I want to do in the future."

"Never enough time in the world," Savanna noted. "We can do things together, you and ah, if ya wanna."

Amethyst gave the offer no consideration before replying. "I'd like that."

Savanna considered ending the conversation there. She didn't. "Ah'm sorry about... ya know. Ah'm sorry ya don't have anywhere else to go, with your family or otherwise..."

Amethyst sighed. "It's okay. All that's been happening recently, I'm not saying it's good, but... I haven't had much time alone to stop and think. I've been on autopilot." She took a deep breath, exhaling it slowly. She laid down on her back and gazed up at the ceiling, relaxing. She watched one of the hanging banners lazily wave in a gentle breeze.

Savanna yawned, opening her book to the table of contents. Sufficiently relaxed, she was intent on reading and enjoying her friend's company for the rest of the day.