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Megaera’s large earth-toned wings expertly flicked an flapped, keeping her on a steady course as the strong winds attempted to buffet her about. She was high above the ground, straddling earth and sea as she patrolled the northern coast and had been easing her way back and forth above the beach all day, keeping a sharp eye out for any unusual activity at the entrance to Dragon’s Throat. It was a lucky thing that she’d been keeping to such a high altitude or even her sharp eyes might have missed the call of the Sultan. But they spread, the army of flaming eagles spread and called the herd to gather. There was a tiny jolt in her stomach, and the thought of a murder in the heart if the Throat was quickly squashed; it could not happen under Gaucho’s watch. Leaning into the air current, Megaera changed course and kicked up her speed.

The Warrior arrived with the rest of the herd and they all settled in around Gaucho. Sharp black eyes wandered over the faces around her; only a few she recognized, and most of those number only by sight. Megaera reminded herself to be more social, after all, how could she guard a herd she didn’t know? There would be time enough for that, she decided, when the current dangers had passed. No, she was content enough to be surrounded by them, to have a place, to belong, and she stood (never quite still) to listen to Gaucho’s announcements.

The pink spy was a prisoner, Meg nodded her head in approval of that. Gaucho would straighten the beast out for sure, though Meg would dearly have liked to give that monster a reckoning herself. When the stallion named his first appointment, Meg turned, like many others did. There was certainly a warrior’s cast to her countenance, no it was more than that the bay realized… The blue jet crackled with electricity and was obviously livid as she stared at Gaucho. Megaera had a brief moment of confusion before the newly named Gladiator exploded forward. She let loose on the Lead and Meg, without thinking, moved forward in a short leap, smashing her front flints down upon the sand and glaring at Ampere. Her wings were raised, as they always did when riled and each feather seem to flare out to increase her size “Watch yourself, Thunderbolt!” She warned, voice a low growl. How dare the mare question their suntan so harshly, so irreverently?! After he had just announced her promotion to Gladiator of the Throat… And then Megaera’s thoughts caught up with her.

Shit.

Meg didn’t shrink, didn’t try to act like she hadn’t spoken, but she did still herself. Ampere was her direct superior and right at that moment, she wasn’t too thrilled about it, but the mare had to work hard to bite back more words she longed to hurl at the fierce Blue. She snapped her gaze back to Gaucho for his reaction and watched as she worked to calm her temper. The Sultan seemed to take in in his stride and both he and the new Chancellor gave reasoned explanations where Meg might have dealt a blow. Since Gaucho neither raised his voice nor immediately demoted Ampere, Meg figured that he must have his reasons and she relaxed her threatening posture to stand straight and bristling, still retaining her stony glare at Ampere. She might have added her own account to support the captive’s guilt, but didn’t trust herself not to say anything worse to the mare she apparently had to work with. Work under. Shit, Meg. You really jumped into the fire there.