Understanding nod tilted the cranium of the young girl, and love filled Athena's heart achingly. It was not love that one may hold for a mate, no. Athena loved Lana because they were family. At last, she had somebody to protect. Somebody to talk with, help. She was no longer alone, and together maybe they wouldn't be so helpless. Every injury she found on the ragged youth made her heart ache. If only she had been allowed to return to her Goddess! Then her magic could have helped her. Athena just wanted to hear her voice, but it wasn't to be. Perhaps she was going to, but the arrival of the icy wraith of a man stopped in its tracks any words that could have graced her ears. Athena however could not remain disappointed for long, as she had to be fully aware of her words in the stallion's presence. Should a single fact be messed up, turned around, or conflict with another, Athena could possibly be trapped. Ironically, she mused on how she technically already was. Surely there was no other way they could chain her to them like a loyal pup.

Mixed umber irises turned briefly to Lana, taking in the defensive posture, the urge to flee within her eyes. Athena's heart ached softly in her ribcage. Lana had always been fearful, even when she had first met the young pegasus, but now she had suffered far more. Gone through so much, trials she should never have faced- especially not at her current age. No youth should have that haunted look to their eyes. Yet she says and does nothing, so Athena turned her gaze once more to the stallion. He is caught in thought, silent as he watches them with eyes as blue as the sky above the Throat, but as cold and aloof as the ice around them. Briefly she realizes he is rather handsome, in both a physical and emotional sense. His aura is really what intrigues her, the emotions hard to detect yet varying in their intensity and range. Athena had discovered that she was a rather good judge of character, but he was hard to penetrate. It made her sigh inwardly. Why was it that everyone in the Basin seemed to have frozen over along with their land? They had created barriers around them, skins of ice that lay above their bodies like armor. It saddened her. Her life had been nothing but love, warmth, and acceptance. Never had she been judged, bullied, or hated for her lack of wings and strange tail. Athena had the warmth of the desert within her heart that was as big as the sky above it. All she wanted to do was show them that life was not truly so cruel. That even when the world hated you, and you wanted to turn your back and become bitter and unfeeling, there was always someone who existed that didn't care about any of that. Most lost souls at that point just gave up trying to find that savior, and Athena pitied them. She wanted to show them the life she'd had. It was hard for her to hate them, when her heart still demanded that she take them to her side and whisper how important they were, how unique. It was still very likely that they would turn out the same, but Athena was helpless against her nature. She just wanted to try. And throughout all these thoughts, her eyes and face showed all of it. Never had she learned to hide her emotions or thoughts. It was why she had to focus so hard when meeting or talking to the Basin members, but the kindness with which the spotted stallion spoke had made her far too hopeful for some sort of friend. A silly thought, truly, but Athena had always been too optimistic for her own good. Perhaps they were not all so cold here?

Softly he spoke, in a way that Athena could not determine. He hid every emotions well, and it was almost difficult to feel him as a person. Snowy pillars drew him one long step forward and sideways. Well, it was long to Athena, she was awfully short and couldn't imagine having legs so impossibly long. Even if he did not return her smile, and instead seemed troubled if the frown on his face bore any meaning, Athena continued nonetheless. It wasn't a chore for her to smile. More than anything else, that was her comfort, and she wasn't going to let it go just yet. Faltered slightly when asked who Lana served. Athena blinked up at Mauja for a moment, and her tail brushed the top of the snow gently, wings fluttering in a surprisingly content fashion. Optimism and hope were dangerous things, after all. "I...I did not think to ask her, sir." Athena hated to say that, but at least she was being honest. Every word spoken so far had been between herself and the strange stallion, Athena desperate to keep Lana from talking. Not for fear that the pegasus would say something wrong, but fearing that if his attention wavered from her, Lana could be targeted next. Though she did not feel any desire for harm from him, she still couldn't ignore the twinge of protectiveness within. Warm eyes turned to Lana encouragingly, wishing she would only say the bare minimum. The two could not handle a fight, even with each other.