The avian who rested warily amidst the iridescent tree canopy’s cover croaked angrily as the swarthy stallion with the snow-white blemish, angled his thuggish glare towards his concealed beloved. Violet eyes widened as his lithe body began to tremble; adrenaline spewed through his veins like a stimulant drug fuelling the sudden surge of his usually checked temper. The flare of flimsy extravagant feathers lining his then arced crest waved through the air as he peered down towards Africa’s foe, and his wings parted in waiting, should the creature stumble beyond the realms of common sense and move closer.

The dappled mare shrank from Windwalker’s conceited tone; her nerves unravelled, rippling the matted sheet of bleakly-hued fur encompassing her, and she felt the cold hard resistance of the cave’s wall against the press of her wingless side. There was no stir of movement, she knew he had not left the small gathering- could see the dim outline of his midnight pelt against the soft illumination of the vegetation embracing them where they stood. The tender caress of her bonded’s mind subdued her desire to react; to slip from the grip of the stallion’s unpleasant eyes and away through the network of tunnels imprisoning her. Desperately Africa wanted to be rid of him, the attitude swelling his once docile, warm personality was overwhelming and frightening; and while frustration and resentment simmered in her mind, the meek creature could do naught but listen helplessly.

Certainly her confidence (that miniscule amount she tried so carefully to clothe herself in) had been eroded away. It seemed, despite her best efforts to avoid their notice, that she had become somewhat the centre of their universe- the startled expression of the Unicorn stallion too was turned her way.

Then, the bright voice of the mare pierced the tension which laced so heavily the air, and both Silas and Africa’s attention shifted suddenly towards her. Long lean ears switched instantly, the almost repulsive note of cheer had dissolved from her tone and in its place was something quite unexpectedly shocked and defiant. Even after the black stallion’s provocative flirting, the mare seemed turned off. All manner of what had been, simply vanished. She hurled towards Windwalker another reprimand and the dappled creature watched with baited breath as she thrust her stride forward, tauntingly lifting her nose towards his. The gesture was fleeting as the painted girl slipped around the wingless brute to stand closer to he who had been mostly silent the whole time.

Something alike to pity began to twist Africa’s stomach; despite the throb of his aversion towards her, it hurt to see him belittled, shunned. The quiver of her lips almost reached for him, the whiskers bristled anxiously upon the frown encompassing, but she recoiled still further from them all and snorted in quiet dismay.

The mare spoke again, this time angling her face- the soft brush of encouraging words, towards the dark veil of humidity by the wall and Africa fidgeted on the spot. "He was not always so wretched…" her frail voice revealed hesitantly, the pallid glow of her eyes wandering grimly to find where Windwalker remained. But it was soon apparent that this brute; the vindictive animal that stood between them was not the same character the other mare remembered either.

Despite the support of the strangers- Africa still was not certain who else exactly Windwalker was chastising; toying with for the sake of her own discomfort, the mare was reluctant to pull from the safety of her shadows and shook her strained face ruefully. Whether or not they caught the subtle flicker of light glancing through moving eyes, Africa offered nothing further. She wasn’t a bully, even pushed to the brink of despair by his hate and spite, she could not muster the energy or willpower to suffer him the hurt burning her heart.

Silas descended at that point, generous wingspan spread smoothly while no barrier obscured his path towards her withers, and there he perched protectively in the glistening gloss of his starlit plumage.

Africa