Kari reacted with such excitement to her reluctant decision to help; his tiny figure bouncing in place discreetly, enthusiastically, elated. Africa could only imagine the fear engulfing his helpless being, and the tender-hearted, quite gullible mare swayed to the tune of her emotions accordingly- it was her nature; and the colt had easily distracted the morbidity of her callous introspection. Who was she to deny a suckling from the care he deserved? ‘Find someone else to take him.’ The mare’s pale complexion shook literally the Zephyr’s warning voice from her thoughts. Already Kari had been denied, and she knew not how long one so small could survive without food.

A small amount of time was let to pass as Africa considered the situation methodically, and the foal’s attention had been shifted in the meantime to the avian perched behind her. While the murky grey child spoke offhandedly about her companion’s undeniable loveliness, a silent conversation began in secret, held close between the confines of their linked minds.

"He is only a child… an infant."

‘…They hunt. They stalk…’

"Shadow is not far from the Sanctuary, Silas."

The bird-like creature cawed shrill frustration and the sound of it resonated wildly, caught between the sheer stone walls of the cavern; it echoed around and around for a long while. For his entire life, Silas had been her guardian; a voice of reasoning more valuable even than the brittle conscience that squirmed inside her. His pale purple eyes flashed across the miniature face of the boy, filled with grim premonition; the futile future of any foolish enough to stray beyond the grisly confines- he didn’t want that for the foal any more than for the mare he loved so fiercely. Star-spangled feathers bristled across his lithe frame, expanding his size; emphasising his desperation that they stay.


"If you can find another- a Spear who has pledged their service to the resist... someone brave enough… we will set off." She smiled lightly without acknowledging the Roc’s treadling talons as they prickled her fleshy rump. Instead she was focused squarely upon the downtrodden nature of the boy’s expression- it had fallen so rapidly, and Africa felt the pangs of guilt pinch her heart. “Kari, we will find Shadow- family do not desert each other.” It wasn’t a lie exactly; the gesture as loose and unconvinced as it was, was quite heartfelt, and her softly fluttering nose was reached towards him thoughtfully.

The one-winged mare had not energy enough to help the colt find the Spear who would help them; defend them, if that was even possible against the threat of looming undead. She had not slept well for much of the time spent below the earth, though not because of the unnaturalness of their rock prison home. Of late, her emotions were in tatters, and confusion was ripe through her core. If nothing else, the distraction of this boy’s plight- when he found at last their guard, was a welcome distraction from all the conflict in her life.

Africa