Welcome to the lands of the Elderwillow Herd
Sacred
Bonds
Seresai
& Sil Meirsa
Physical Description
Seres is best described as a light boned and dainty, with a definite feminine cast to her features. Among Wind Soquili, she could certainly be considered lovely - her coat is a pristine white and her wings are quite long and elegantly tapered. Her attitude, however, keeps most would be suitors at bay.
While hardly poised or proper, Seresai is every inch the daughter of Crousader and Amarinne. Her proud bearing is hard to mistake for anything else, leading to an assumed element of arrogance that doesn't land far from the truth. She is arrogant, but it is an arrogance born from hardship and tests that nearly cost her more than life or limb. She has seen many things in her life, and they ghost her steps even now. Choosing to embrace them is a sign of her indomitable will and courageous heart.
Even at rest, Seresai is a warrior. Beneath her shining coat are muscles developed over years of merciless practice and dangerous enemies. She's faced Shifters more than once, escaping with her life only through wit, determination, and no small amount of luck. Their marks linger to this day as a scattering of scars - reminders that being careful isn't just a passing thought, it's a lifestyle. She is fully aware that she stands zero chance of defeating brute monsters like Seethe and Haast head on, but she'll stand even less of a chance if she doesn't keep herself physically fit.
Her one vanity would be her wings, though not just for their convenience. As proud as she is of her mother, she is grateful that she inherited the gift of Wind Horse from her father. Her wings grant her the freedom of the skies, and she treasures them as more frivolous mares treasure their hair. She keeps them in meticulous condition, and can be seen nervously preening them when her stress level is peaking dangerously.
Personality
Seresai is a mare forged by fire—her spirit tempered by hardship, loss, and the unrelenting demands of survival. Once a bright-eyed idealist, she has grown into a sharp, pragmatic realist, her worldview shaped by the brutal lessons life has dealt her. Pride, honor, and loyalty form the bedrock of her being, guiding every decision and action with an iron resolve that brooks no compromise. To Seresai, her moral code is not just a personal creed; it is a shield against the chaos of the world and a promise she holds herself accountable to, even when the weight of it threatens to crush her.
At her core, Seresai is fearless and determined, a mare who refuses to back down in the face of adversity. Her courage is not born from recklessness but from an unshakable belief in her duty to protect others. As the Protector of the Elderwillow Herd, she shoulders the immense burden of ensuring its safety and survival. Her keen, tactician's mind is always at work, analyzing threats and crafting intricate strategies that balance ambition with careful pragmatism. She does not gamble with lives—each move is precise, every risk weighed. This focus earns her the respect of her peers, though her exacting expectations sometimes push others to their limits.
Seresai's independence is both her greatest strength and her deepest vulnerability. Fiercely self-reliant, she moves through life with a steadfast confidence, trusting her instincts and quick reflexes to see her through danger. Her autonomy serves as a suit of armor, shielding her from reliance on others and ensuring no one can betray or disappoint her. Yet this independence often manifests as impulsiveness, driving her to leap into peril without fully considering the consequences. She shoulders the fallout of her choices without complaint, but her unwillingness to share burdens often leaves her isolated, cutting her off from the very connections she fights so fiercely to protect.
Emotionally, Seresai is a fortress—her walls built tall and unyielding by the losses and disappointments she has endured. While her loyalty to those she loves is profound and unwavering, she struggles to express her vulnerabilities. To admit weakness is to risk failure, and failure is something she cannot abide. Instead, Seresai channels her grief, anger, and fears into action, turning emotional pain into a driving force that fuels her relentless pursuit of justice and safety for her herd. Beneath her guarded exterior, however, lies a well of empathy. She feels deeply for those who suffer, and it is this unspoken compassion that inspires her to fight—not for glory, but for those who cannot fight for themselves.
Pride defines much of who Seresai is, though it is a double-edged sword. Her confidence is well-earned through hard-won victories and relentless effort, but it can verge into arrogance, particularly when she feels others are not matching her own level of commitment. She has high standards for herself and others, a trait that mirrors her father’s unyielding expectations—a truth she would never willingly acknowledge. Her judgmental streak can alienate those who don’t live up to her ideals, though her critiques, however sharp, are always driven by her desire to see those around her thrive.
Despite her flaws—her impulsiveness, her defiance, her tendency to shoulder burdens alone—Seresai’s heart burns with an unwavering resolve. She is a mare of action and conviction, a warrior who will stand tall against any foe, no matter the cost. Her loyalty is ironclad, her integrity unassailable, and her determination to protect her herd unwavering. Those who win her trust will find a steadfast ally willing to walk through fire for them, while those who threaten her home will meet the unrelenting fury of a protector who will not rest until the danger is extinguished.
In the end, Seresai is both a fierce guardian and a complex soul—defined by her virtues and flaws alike. She is unyielding, courageous, and unafraid to carve her own path through a world that demands compromise. Her story is one of resilience, justice, and the relentless pursuit of a life where safety and honor prevail, no matter the challenges that lie ahead.
History
​Seresai’s life has been one of hardship, resilience, and unyielding courage. Born to Amarinne and her lifemate Crousader, she was raised alongside her sister Amerlei in the southernmost camp of the Islagiatt Herd, a place of martial tradition and disciplined strength. As a young mare, her closest friend was Wildfire, daughter of Flame and Princess Hallany. Together, the two were tutored—and later apprenticed—by the eccentric unicorn stallion, Toujours, whose teachings would unknowingly shape the battles to come.
Their youthful curiosity turned to tragedy when Toujours led them on a quest to the City of Thieves. Unbeknownst to them, it was a journey fraught with danger and significance for their mentor. It was in that forsaken city that Seresai first encountered the shifter demon Seethe, a malevolent predator of nightmarish cunning. Though brave, her bravado was short-lived when Seethe nearly eviscerated her, forcing Seres to crawl to safety and unwittingly mark herself—and her herd—as targets.
After escaping the city, Seresai, Wildfire, and Toujours returned to warn their herd, but the attack they feared never came. Instead, Seethe—an ambush predator of terrifying patience—changed his tactics, silently hunting their loved ones and stalking the shadows. The tipping point came when Seresai joined the search party that found Tai, a beloved member of their family, mutilated and lifeless in Seethe’s lair. It was Seresai who discovered him and confronted the shifter in a harrowing battle that nearly claimed her life. Though she escaped, Tai’s death shattered the Elderwillow Herd’s peace and security.
The Flight of the Elderwillow
The Elderwillow Herd had no choice but to abandon their homeland, fleeing from Seethe’s relentless pursuit. For a time, they found refuge around an ancient and venerable cherry tree, renaming themselves the Cerezo Herd in its honor. But Seethe’s attacks continued—each more ruthless than the last—and survival became a daily battle.
During this dark time, Seresai made a discovery that would change her life forever. While scouting the territory, she stumbled upon a barely hours-old foal—a unikalona halfbreed, abandoned by his herd and left to die. Despite the superstitions and prejudices surrounding such crosses, Seresai refused to leave him. She named him Shishio Gen, a name that symbolized restraint and strong will, a silent prayer for the life she hoped he might have.
For the next two years, Seresai served as the Protector of the Cerezo Herd, all while raising Gen as her own. Her father, Crousader, vehemently rejected the colt, often referring to him as a “monster,” and warning of the unikalona blood rage that could consume him. Seresai, however, refused to give up on Gen, raising him with discipline, care, and love, despite the challenges they faced.
But her worst fears were realized one cruel night. When Gen’s blood rage finally overtook him, he lost control of himself, attacking Seresai in a frenzy. The battle was brutal. Seresai was nearly killed, and both Blais and Crousader were gravely injured restraining him. Yet, in a moment of astonishing strength and willpower, Gen managed to wrest himself back from the brink of madness. Despite her wounds and the turmoil of betrayal, Seresai would not abandon him.
The Angeni of Chivalry
Determined to save Gen from his bloodline’s curse, Seresai took him—despite her own injuries—out into the wilds to seek help. There, they encountered Sirian, the Angeni of Chivalry, a noble and disciplined being who agreed to mentor the young unikalona crossbreed. Leaving Gen in Sirian’s care was one of the hardest decisions Seresai had ever made. She carried the guilt of her failure and the hope for his redemption in equal measure.
Years later, her faith was rewarded. Shishio Gen returned to the herd as a fully grown stallion—a warrior in full control of his abilities, tempered by Sirian’s teachings and Seresai’s unwavering belief in him. Seeing him stand tall and proud, no longer the broken and abandoned foal she had rescued, was the proudest moment of her life.
Protector of the Herd
The trials Seresai faced shaped her into the stalwart protector she is today. Her experiences have hardened her resolve and sharpened her instincts. She is a shield for her herd, standing between them and the shadows that threaten to consume them. Tai’s death and Seethe’s pursuit remain scars upon her soul, but they fuel her determination to never again leave her family vulnerable.
Though she carries many burdens—both physical and emotional—Seresai remains fiercely loyal to her herd and to her values. She is both a warrior and a survivor, tempered by loss but unyielding in her drive to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Her bond with Gen remains unshakable, a testament to her belief in second chances and the strength of will that unites them both.
Seresai’s story is one of pain, love, sacrifice, and redemption. In a world shadowed by darkness, she stands as a beacon of defiance—unyielding, unbroken, and unafraid.
Upon Flame's retirement as Alpha, Seresai has ascended and the herd has selected Gen to serve at her side as the new Protector.
Other Art Versions
Original Art by Lilwere
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