Lathered in sweat; fine foam formed where her skin rubbed and grazed together, the Oracle needed not suggest the taxing nature of all that world soon envelope them. Her long mane clung in sodden ropes to the steaming breadth of her long, quietly arcing neck; the thick wad of forelock at its crowning, spilt heavily to the right of the same eye, where the subtle angle of her face insisted it rest. A haze of flies bothered her constantly, allured by the inevitable stress of her journey north, and intermittently her crimson strewn tail snapped viciously to lash at the generous bow of her hips. Weeks in the cool, dank underground had been apparently more comfortable than she had imagined, and even now when the cool shift between summer and winter doused the country, she felt the burden of humidity.

‘No time!’ Silas repeated, the sharp hook of his beak clacking loudly into the half beneath warningly. He was fidgeting as he watched, dancing his agitating across the gnarled limb which groaned resentfully at his impatient animation. ‘Fear darkness…’

She was a kindly creature, though recent tensions were inescapably wrought throughout the dappled canvas stretched to fit her lean, classy frame. Despite that, the worry lurking behind the pale softness of her eyes was diluted with compassionate understanding that was a gift to match the countless experiences sharpening her mind, and those grim lessons humbling her heart. The colt who stood before her so innocently, so oblivious, retaliated to her counsel with a steadiness that was not anticipated; wavering ears bathed in coaly-grey down grasped only the cooperative words of a soul whose trust had perhaps not yet been tried by those cruellest in the world- she felt his courage, even though his voice fumbled with the rapidness of her own heart.

A gentle smile wrapped snugly around the velvet taper of her face and she stiffened appropriately, shielding him from her yielding nature for now. Should a brow have perched above the almond curve of her eye, it might have cocked to portray the interest with otherwise leaked into the translucency of her pretty pallid face. “Excellent Marco.” She fought the affectionate smile pinching the wrinkled corners of her mouth, not wishing to trump the seriousness of their situation with the sensitivity brimming within (the colt was endearing, she could not deny that), and continued with a chivalrous nod. “You might prove to be a very valuable asset to our herd with such longsuffering legs, and spirit to match. I can only a hope a home is something you seek.”

Fluttering nostrils released warm approval and Africa began to turn herself towards the south- the never ending labyrinth of trees, the fringe of the meadow and the danger beyond. ‘Let’s go…’
The bird swooped with such propulsion that the branch hosting him swayed unhappily, and Silas continued ahead to scout their path. “It is time valiant one, let’s go.” There would be ample time to discuss merit and futures when the stone walls of The Sanctuary surrounded them- for now though, the young mare struck out at a brisk trot; one which would in turn increase to a swift gallop to trial that valour which echoed Marco’s willing words.


[ooc: Huge apologies for holding Marco up. Crazy life has slowed again! After your reply here, I will put up a thread for them in the Sanctuary and we can continue there <3]