"Foraging..."

The smile lingered, perhaps not fooling the smaller bay nearly as easily as she had presumed it might. The thought of food was something Africa could not bear in recent months (such was the consequence of compounding stress), and though her concerned bonded often parted to gather staples and fruits for them both, his efforts were mostly in vain. The dappled mare’s pallid complexion tilted casually as Megaera introduced Lee, and warmth pooled quietly in the softness of her watching beige eyes. Indeed she knew the danger insinuated beneath the veil of informal chatter- the Oracle had ventured through the darkness above one time only since their descent into this mass tomb, and she had no desire to part with safety again.

Straying gaze fell beneath the gilt glare of the Sultan’s bright eyes and velvet nostrils rattled an otherwise silent greeting. Swivelling ears caught the light sound of Fina’s voice, but she barely reacted- half-heartedly her mind called for the star flanked Zephyr who so obviously favoured his opposite (in almost every single way). Midas' body pulled comfortably alongside the Oracle and all attention reverted back upon the newcomer while he spoke. Though the Threshold’s potential plunge into sickness was a flicker of worry; she stilled cared, still pined for the wellbeing of her family, Africa was more caught up about the swell of characters filling ‘their’ sanctuary- the horned ones, possible northerners.

Still, no other knew her anxiety or its foundation, so she bristled away those feelings for the time being. Boldly she nodded- hoping to appear likewise, as though her primary focus was along the lines of the darkness... and Lee.

Struck? The word caught the Oracle’s waning interest, drawing quickly both her long ears and lethargic gaze to investigate the overo’s expression a little more carefully- briefly though, she looked to both herd-mates to find their reaction; should they have noticed at all. Africa was a perceptive creature by nature and for the sake of her allotted career, and such curiosities did not pass her shrewd ability by so easily. His anxiousness was quickly masked with blandness and she chose to hold her tongue considerately- they all had secrets and wounds buried beneath life’s relentless passage; and she knew all too well unwillingness to share.

As his composure resumed, leaving no trace of that glance offered into his hidden past, Lee continued- presumably down another trail of thought and Africa followed cautiously; listening ever more closely to the manner of his speaking. He mentioned stealth and her nose wrinkled involuntarily. "I have not seen Shadow around for a long time..." the one-winged mare mentioned suddenly, wondering in respectful silence if their sister had been stolen as well. "...Before our Sun God’s warning was the last time. She would be your finest coach, if she were here...” Thoughts turned to the child which had been born to the Sleuth then, and her stomach sank heavily.

Africa