She had been feeling lively these days. She wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. It was nice in the moment, to have the energy to stroll wherever she pleased, the usual storm in her head subsiding to a dull ache. However, these brief periods of respite were often followed by days and days of laying immobile, too ill to move or eat.  She enjoyed it while she still could though. Picoro had spent the morning combing her hair. He had pulled the strands into a braid, taking extra care to arrange the pieces to hide the places that were thinnest.  It was still a small thin braid, but she liked it better than the usual nonetheless.  Unfortunately, there wasn't much that could be done with her tail. 

Not long ago she had visited the Terminus sea and had grown rather fond of the crashing waves below, though she hadn't summoned the courage to approach the edge of the cliffs.  That morning she had set out to cross the steppe again, hoping to get another taste of the salty ocean air.  She smiled softly as the smell hit her, and she finally saw the peaks of waves over the rocks.

She picked her way forwards carefully. She wasn't graceful, she when she walked her hooves nearly dragged across the ground. Here she was careful to lift them high. She was better at navigating it this time around, then she had been before. she stumbled less and dared to approach the edge. She still stopped about a foot away. instead, she craned her neck forward to see down below. She was surprised to see that there was a shore, and not just a straight drop. Other horses promenaded below, and she longed to join them, but she dare not attempt to make her way down the narrow craggy path. 

Something caught her attention in the water right in the midst of the eddies, stood, or lay - she couldn't tell which- a blue and crimson mare. The glow of her points reminded her of a winged mare back in Elysium. She was struck with curiosity, and her heart was tugged even further still to make her way down to the water. She glaced warily at the trail down the cliffs. Picoro, knowing what she was thinking hissed at her in warning. "Do you really think thats a good idea?" he cautioned, looking at her with concern.

Slowly she made her way towards it.  She slid down the first little bit, rocks skidding out from under her hooves. She pressed herself against the cliff wall, her heart suddenly hammering. She could feel the rocks bumping off her ribs as she moved.  She made it to the bottom and hung her head, catching her breath. Once her heart slowed, she made her way to the water, dipping her hooves in. She could feel the strong undertow of the waves pulling against her fetlocks.  She moved along the shore towards the mare she had seen. "Hello" she greeted "aren't you cold?" The waters were still frigid after the winter, and she wondered how the mare wasn't absolutely shaking. 

Her eyes widened only slightly as she saw the mares fins rise above the surface. So thin and razor-like that the waves didn't break against them, instead of carrying straight through. She had seen horses like this before, there were some that stayed around the edges of Elysium. She had never spoken to them, but on occasion, she had seen the end of a tail breach the surface.  She imagined that was why the mare wasn't absolutely frozen in spring seas. She wondered if this one had a tail. The surface was too chaotic to see beneath it.  "perhaps to you" she replied with a slight laugh. "But I think most would disagree

Picoro, who had been silent up until now blinked in annoyance at the mare's question. "Has no one in Novus ever seen a sloth?" He asked indignantly. Luvena looked back at him for a moment before turning back to the water horse. "He's a sloth" she answered "They're slow tree climbers, though Picoro prefers my back to the trees. I had never heard of them until I met him as a baby" this comment was mostly directed at the animal in question, who let out a slight whine in response.

There was something different about this mare, aside from the obvious. She didn't look at her the same way most did. She still looked at her as if she was strange... but there was no pity behind her gaze, no concern or horror or disgust. It was nice, she hadn't had anyone look at her that way in a very long time. 

"I'm Luvena, by the way" she introduced herself. "I take it you're new here? Welcome" A warm smile crossed her delicate face. 

@Indrani