She noticed soon enough that the skin stretched between each of the foal’s murky blue eyes seemed irritated; he rubbed frequently, vigorously, against the friction of an outstretched knee- it was not a normal behaviour, and the dappled mare’s interest grew quietly. Pale eyes watched coolly as he regarded her explanation regarding the underground army; focus committed beyond his years, and gently her light-grey complexion nodded when his small, childish voice pierced the lull surrounding once more. “No, I’m sorry.” Africa admitted remorsefully, switching her gaze quickly when she realised how tedious the task she had delegated would quite probably be. She knew well how crowded, Gaucho’s time in particular, had become since the darkness had begun; and also that he spent more time scouting the surface than he did mulling with the likes of herself and Kari.

It would be easier just to pluck a stagnant figure from the shadows…

“Have you seen Gaucho before?” Curiously she looked down at the small colt, leaving a slim moment of silence to answer before she began a fairly comprehensive description- it had been her duty to learn about her kin; their family, and Africa had thoroughly noted all she could. “He is taller than most, bay-brown with black legs and also black accents on his face. A great rack of antlers… she paused suddenly, and thought hard, …a headdress that looks like naked tree branches sits high upon his forehead- a serpent, Mara is coiled through them. A dream catcher of sorts is also caught between the prongs. He is blessed with two large wings- naturally, and a single bone passes through the skin between his nostrils.” Confident that such a portrayal would suffice she nodded- only to add, “But I fear he would be the hardest to find of all.”

Kari’s interest in the tale she told about the God of the Sun and her relationship with the deity took her fancy right away; an innocent form of flattery that she was rarely treated to. A smile almost as eager as the foal’s own swept through her expression and she found herself nodding with unravelling composure as his whispered is amazement. Smoothly and kindly she answered. “I did, yes. The sun God is beautiful,” she offered firstly- because that was certainly the most striking thing about him. “He is merciful and wise, and it was the gift of his insight that saved us from the…”

Africa paused suddenly, concern flushing the vigour from her face- “Well he is the reason we are here, you see.” Lightly she chuckled, coyly even, not wanting to panic Kari and drive him back into that feverish desperation to find Shadow. “There are three Gods; of the Sun, the Earth and the Spark- and one Goddess, of the Moon. I have only seen our Lord, and he of the Earth. Neither is scary…” the latter was a partial lie, though her fear of the God of the Sun stemmed primarily from her grave desire to please and impress him.

Carefully and secretly she hoped that the foal would be easily distracted from her near blunder.

Africa