09. Falsities and Fire
By the time Waylon could ask what Blue was doing, the horse was gone. He had set off in search of the Canyon, blazing a trail back to his homeland. Blue followed the river downstream instinctually, as if guided by Agatha, Marigold, and Solaris. He reached a meditative-like trance in his trot back, immersed in the repititiveness of his hooves striking the earth. It was a strange moment of stillness in his mind amidst the chaos.
The first light rays of the new day were just beginning to emerge above the peaks when Blue arrived at the river’s fork. Looking down at the ground, he noticed imprints of the past. The path forward was clear, and he followed in the footsteps of his forgotten Mostrenco. As Blue continued downstream, the water level fell lower and lower. His heart sank with the river.
Blue entered the Canyon like a blast of thunder. His hooves must have been echoing for miles, as the Herd of Elders was awaiting his arrival. Blue stopped in his tracks and kicked up a plume of dust. His bright orange eyes pierced through the cloud.
The dust settled back to the ground, then the leader stepped forward. “So the child of peace is now the prophet of war. Have you any idea what you’ve done?”
“I’m aware of it all. The prophecy, the peace, the pain you’ve put us through for generations. Believe it or not, I’ve come here to help. I know a way we can truly be free.”
“Foolish boy, you’ve ruined us!” The leader stomped his hoof. “It’s no wonder the river has been drying up since you left.”
“I can lead us up to the fountain. I’ve seen it. I’ve tasted it. It could be ours and we can control our own destiny.” Blue continued to plead but the Herd was deaf to his warnings. They viewed his actions as the catalyst towards their collective destruction.
“Anthracite will be here soon. You’d be wise to leave.” The leader’s stare was unwavering. “There’s no home for you here in the Canyon.”
Blue was bewildered by the response. Seems the Mostrenco had lost their way long before he was born. “You can blame a spark for starting a fire, but who’s at fault for fanning its flames?” Blue took one last look at the Herd of Elders, then set off towards the horizon.
When Blue was nearly out of the Canyon, he paused to take a drink from the Wild River. When he lifted his head back up, he was greeted by an old wheat colored horse. “Hello my beautiful boy.” The voice cut through his skin and entered his heart.
“Mother, is that you?” Blue dropped to his knees.
Marigold slowly stepped closer, then rested her head on his. “I always knew you’d find your way.”
Blue explained everything that had happened to him, and she shared with Blue her story.
“I’m not sure where I’m going, but we can go there together. Come with me, mother.”
“I cannot, my son. I’m much too old now to survive the desert. Blue, this is what your father and I have always wanted for you. The Herd holds our children hostage and calls it freedom, but you finally have the opportunity to run wild. Please, take it.”
Falsities and Fire
So the child of peace is now the prophet of war.
Does he long to discover what he was before?
Is he a princeling wronged or the perfect pawn?
No jury returned, so the burden is yours.
You gleam in your eyes when you’re thinking of it
The past in a tomb that longs to exist
Try as you might, it betrays you, despite.
What you dream in the dark is what you will in the light.
You have no home here
You must get going
You have no home here
You reap in silence when you sow what you say
A chip of the truth and chiseled away
It’s strange all the same and sort of at odds
You steal to use what’s buried from gods
Agatha has no burden to bear
No future to hold or reason to care
When you ride with a rogue you’re bound to bleed
Destined to lie with the kind that you keep
You have no home here
You must get going
You have no home here