The moonlight lit the road ahead, casting long shadows that flickered as the wind stirred the branches overhead. Serena kept her gaze ahead, her shoulders square and hands still firm on the reins. The night was silent but not unsettling, filled with the occasional chirp of crickets or the rustle of something small in the underbrush.
The ride was smooth for the most part. The mare had settled into a steady pace, hooves thudding against the earth in rhythm, her breath puffing visibly in the cool night air. Serena took it as a good sign, she was nearly home. Just a little longer.
She glanced to her left, watching the silhouettes of the trees as they passed, and for a brief moment, let her mind wander. Darius. Livia. Elen. Even Riven. They all floated in her thoughts like threads waiting to be tied together. It was overwhelming in a quiet sort of way. She hadn't expected any of this.
A sudden crack to her right snapped her from her thoughts.
