Look down, the ground below is crumbling
Look up, the stars are all exploding
Quickly Africa realized that it might have been a far wiser plan to find shelter for herself and for Silas, hours ago- long before the heat could become so overbearing. She peered upwards through the rippling, thick air above but she could not see her young soul mate any longer. Without the stirring of a roused heartbeat between them there was no reason for concern however, and Africa’s head sank quietly back into the river of miserable heat. Through these tremendous transformations of wave-like rock, was the fastest path to the desert’s heart- it was the same landmark trail over which many soared north-bound, as they fulfilled their daily rituals and deeds. Africa had been among those travelers, many moons ago and that was why the ignorant dappled horse had innocently and so eagerly ventured in.

Striking here and there the rouge face of windblown limestone, Africa found she could hardly avert the sloppy clatter of her step there. All around her the sudden chorus of her passing lifted energetically into the sticky air like crickets delighting in their beloved moonlight, trapped within ancient walls of blazing red and creamy beige and the young mare would pause stunned and cautious. Carefully she would direct each of her front hooves towards what plainly appeared to be cushioning sand, but often it was deceptively shallow and stone lurked there beneath as well. Whenever she fell into the soft sand, a gentle sigh fluttered Africa’s grey velvety nostrils.
Naturally she walked as close against the western-most walls as she could manage. There the shade seemed concentrated and most reliable, and she smiled gratefully to herself. Still the sweat lathering points of her body which rubbed together remained fresh; although the sun’s burning touch could not stroke her as she hid herself away, its humid breath still hugged snugly around her. The mottled grey coat looked far darker than naturally it should have and the tawny tips of her long luscious mane clung in drab strips to her bouncing neck.

The gently echoing swoosh of wings in motion; a sudden draught, unexpected and cool as it swept across her uplifted face, caught Africa by surprise. Curiously she watched the familiar painted stallion’s descent into the canyon a small distance ahead, and a bright smile lifted her mildly weary expression. “Midas!” She called out to him immediately, so pleased to see him again that all at once her bother seemed to evaporate altogether. She stumbled forward into deeper sand at last without reserve, closing what distance lingered between them. “Hello General!” She sang merrily again, offering no insight into the trauma which had claimed her flight- quite oblivious to the reaction such a thing might cause.

Silas, as he drifted beneath gliding wings, felt the mirth swell through his partner though she was lost below, concealed from his protective gaze by the maze of rock below. Gently he dipped to the right and doubled back to find Africa and the distraction which she had stumbled across.