While her tenderly worried gaze roved the expression of the delicate child, she wondered in secret about his lineage- or rather, how ultimately unlike Shadow he truly seemed. She was quite fascinated. Drawing from the slim chord of memories stored surrounding the raven-black Sleuth, Africa could find very little in the colt’s appearance (at least), which resembled his mother. A thoughtful smile had been left to stray through her idle pondering, and when his voice suddenly rose through the onslaught of silence post-explanation, the young mare jumped a little- the searching nature of his words taking her quite by surprise.

She could not deny that the same thoughts had passed through her mind also- this was not like the Endless Night which had choked Helovia of sunlight; of courage and hope. Many had witnessed the God’s passing between worlds on that occasion, and tales of those cosmic, otherworldly battles still occasionally surfaced to feed the hungry minds of children, and pupils questing for knowledge. During that darkness many seasons now past, the trembling population had been left to fend for themselves- but this time, signs had been gifted; assuring those mortal minds so easily swayed by doubt, that they had not been forsaken. Africa remembered then quickly that Megaera had announced a message from the God of the Earth. He had blessed the waters which gurgled indolently right behind where she stood now with Kari, and told them of its healing quality. Spontaneously, caught up in silent musing, the dappled mare swivelled in place to glance at that fountain- then upwards towards the flickering ceiling-fire (she had always insisted that her own Lord would descend through the flames like he had through the Fire of the Diviner at some point), and then back once more to rest atop the inscriptions marking the wall.

"I cannot say, Kari." She offered sympathetically. "But I can only imagine how wearing a mortal population such as our own would be on their patience." Helovians had been given a paradise to expand and thrive within, and even Africa was not so foolish to think that their benevolent Gods were not abused and neglected by the majority. She tried tirelessly to impress her love upon them- upon he of Sun and Light in particular; but it was hard for a weary heart to shoulder the ignorant love of an entire herd, and worship accordingly. There were many unbelievers walking the sands of time, and perhaps it was they who had brought this wrath upon them all.

Kari’s innocence was endearing; she was drawn a step closer towards him as the need to embrace and comfort his obviously confused soul began to boil. Instead of reaching with warm, dry lips though, her gentle voice slipped to stroke about his little downy ears. "I think, for this occasion, it might be faster if we searched without divine intervention…" Africa knew not even if her ability to speak with the patron of their former home still existed- a great void had opened in her heart recently, where once the warmth of that connection had been.

Africa