Woodswatch. A small collection of buildings unfit to be called a town and not friendly enough to be called a village. If Woodswatch had a slogan, it would be "Welcome no no-ponies-land. No houses are welcome here." Skywhistle had already got funny looks from the inhabitants when she came last night. The innkeeper she gave her bits to was no less frosty. They didn't hate her, she told herself, they hated her gilded hoplite armor. They hated the Stormwing crest on her bronze shield. They hated the blue and brown dyed hair in her helm. In all likelihood, her armor and weapons were the only thing keeping ponies from gathering the courage to pick a fight. None of them hated her.

She longed to regain her honor. She would get strong urges to fly back to Rainbow Dash and beg her forgiveness, and plead for a warrior's death. She was already getting sick of the Woodswatch folk hating her for wearing the fruit of every labor in her life. She had worked hard for the status of hoplite, and even if House Stormwing fell, a hoplite she would stay. She didn't know any other life, nor did she want one.

She left Woodswatch as soon as she was fed and rested, and flew fast towards Redheart's Refuge, where her dreams beckoned her. She had had another one last night, saying the same things as before. She made good time, touching down on the outskirts around midday, when the sun was straight up in the sky. She knew that if she tried to fly over the walls, there would be consequences. She had to talk her way in.

She approached the gates. Wearing her armor would not help, but she could not part with it. They would just have to trust her word.

"Hello. I wish to enter the refuge.

I've been having strange dreams. I feel It's my destiny."

She did not know why she said that to them, but it was true.