SA | CP 1.4 | And when you are gone

+6 AP (410 words, Shaded headshot, simple BG and Level 1 checkpoint bonus) | for Amber
*Tried very hard to shade, please correct me if it's not noticable enough

"Someone just stole something precious to you, what do you do about?"

Stolen? Amber had already been stolen from many years back. The culprit her very own herd. Her sister had been taken from her without a moments notice. A deed most vile, yet a normalised occurance within herd life. Her reaction - once she learned the truth - had been one of defiance. Despite of herd law she thought it unjust. Her sister who worked so hard, tried so hard, shipped off despite her best efforts. How was that right? She herself would have gladly spared food out of her own mouth if it meant keeping Lilliana at her side. Alas she was gone and there was nothing she could do to change that fact. Anger, it had become a constant in her life. Anger towards the herd, anger at the injustice. It made her concentrate on what was not right, rebel against the norm. She let that anger become her spirit, a will to fight and a source of power. Her goal became to chance the herd, the way they viewed strength and weakness, a place where her sister may have lived if she had gotten the chance. It made her bitter and distant and closed, focussed on one thing and one thing alone. It was a battle that made her tired, a solent war that left her feeling isolated and alone. And when she could no longer go on, daily battles leaving her spent. Amber would look at the sky, counting the stars at which Lilliana had pointed once. In remembering she gathered her strength. And remembering made her heart ache. Those memories, they were too sweet and made her long for sisterly company. Lilliana had told her once, and she remembered the words so clear, that they all shared the same sky, every living thing. She meant to say they weren't so different, despite the obvious things. No species, gender or birthplace that stood between equines. Amber could hardly relate to such farfetched claims, but she respected her sister's look on things. Sometimes she stood there and wondered if all what she did was in vain. What was all this fighting worth? After all her something precious had already been stolen and though she fought to change how things were, what happened was already past and no matter the effort, she was not coming back. She was only fighting in spirit of what she already lost. She had turned that anger in power and no longer cared for the cost.

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Accompagnying piece to

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Amber and art (c) me