Look down, the ground below is crumbling
Look up, the stars are all exploding
The air was slick with choking humidity; even so far below the rich emerald canopy of the Deep Forest where the murky shade resembled the eeriest of twilight hours. No whispering breeze rippled the lush fernery which thrived in the dank, sunless world across the forest floor and seldom was there inspiring movement- only the frolicking blur of rogue deer spooked in the unsettling stillness, or a bird swooping from the gnarly arms of one tree to another. If it weren’t for the intermittent chorus of tiny, wrens fluttering through the dense undergrowth, or the raucous screeching of boisterous, obnoxious parrots playing in the very tops of ancient trees, the region would probably have caused the sensitive skin across Africa’s short spine to crawl with apprehensive suspicion. As it was, there was just enough life and normality to comfort her thudding heart.

She and Silas had spent the day searching for the hillock upon which Africa had encountered the fearsome Basilisk; the creature that had frightened two pigeons from their quest to steal the creature’s egg- and dine on it undoubtedly, she had always believed. The egg had chosen her, incredibly, by rolling and settling against her front hooves; it had taken Africa many weeks to come to terms with the phenomenon which was that day, and still she sometimes wondered if it were just a strange dream. The egg regrettably had been ruined during her time beneath the ground; she had returned only to find dried sections of its delicate shell strewn around the corner of her den where she had hidden it beneath the sand. Little was she aware, that the Zephyr who flanked her every movement these days was the product of that magical day, and the egg which she had treasured so deeply.

She had been unable to find he place however, and as the shade grew denser and darker, Africa admitted grim defeat- surrendering her mission. Slowly she turned to Silas, who had found for himself, a large fruit severed from its parent by the bumbling parrots above. He was quite nearly done when Africa spoke, and tenderly he nursed her bothered amber eyes with his own beady black gaze. “I don’t know what the time is, I can never tell in this forest…" She admitted quietly, looking from her friend to the thick veil of canopy above. “We should head home while there is still some light to guide us. "- Silas would not have cared so much about the darkness, he was a nocturnal creature after all.
She waited patiently for the Zephyr to finish his meal, lowering her lips to nibble at fine sprouts of yellowy grass which peeked occasionally from the dense carpet of leaf litter.

Soon enough the duo were traipsing back in the direction Africa assumed they had come from, slowly and carefully as she navigated various moss covered logs, and tiny sun-deprived saplings who had not long ventured into the warm open air. They travelled for some time, and the cover of night slowly began to sink around them, shrouding them in impenetrable blackness. Africa’s eyes found it difficult to adjust initially, and blinking constantly she found it a significant strain to find a path through the trees.
Silas saw the body first and croaked warily from where he rode comfortably upon the dappled mare’s damp back. Africa paused the moment the Zephyr’s warning touched her long, wavering ears and peered ahead through the darkness, barely able to comprehend the mass of blending shapes around her. “Hello? " She called quietly, her Bonded stiffening in place and bristling his feathers as he watched the laying horse ahead. For the time being Africa dared not continue and lifted her face cautiously to taste the strong, lingering scent of a native doe and an unfamiliar horse- a female.