A light chuckling mixture of surprise and relief burst from her lungs at the mention of the Mother of Companion’s farfetched and overzealous theories on companionship- a little louder than she’d expected it to... "Ah ha! Didn’t I feel the hypocrite agreeing to harbour the idea..." Brightly she smiled, feeling far more at ease by the side of Sohalia and the common ground they very obviously shared, then ever she had next to Ampere. There were no fraying nerves and no eggshells to teeter across. She felt so relaxed, so comfortable- even despite the accountability weighing upon them. Africa had known Sohalia much longer than the brief, fraught relationship deemed necessary, with the blue mare. Enthusiastically the dappled mare found herself nodding, very much more inspired than she had been before seeking out her white sister.

"Perhaps, in honour of Ampere’s reign... (she meant nothing maliciously, but chortled softly; thankfully) ...we could champion them instead, like you say.” Fond eyes wander upwards to look for Silas who still wafted nearby, quite disinterestedly. They are not chained like slaves to us, she thought pensively, recalling the broiling passion behind Ampere’s very unrelenting accusation- so unwilling to meet the perspective of any bound soul.

Long live freedom...

Africa thought silently for a moment after Sohalia had spoken finally of the ranks. "Andromeda has been working. She has been seen on patrol with ranked soldiers, and I have set a task for her to travel with herbs from our oasis to World’s Edge as a gift and token of our goodwill. There is a mare there who tends a garden, and uses her produce to heal." Africa had suggested the young apprentice Sikeax follow along, but if she could not, the Starry-Eyed would go instead. "I see her fit to hold her role as Sun Physician. Tandavi, I have not seen... at all." She thought about Cera then, who she thought tenderly as the very embodiment of Dragon’s Throat. He spoke passionately always of their home, and was perhaps stronger still than she, as a follower of the Sun. "Cera should remain our Diviner, and the young boy Sacre shows promise as our Sleuth." He too had been on patrol; and many among them had spoken of his support and activity. There seemed little reason to move him from his place.

The forger would perhaps require a little more consideration; like the new Sultana had mentioned, there had been no apprentice trained in the fine art of metal bending; too few numbers also to place one at the time. Her nostrils rattled softly as she sighed. Still their followers were small. "We should encourage recruiting somehow..." she remarked randomly, lost to the thought. Refocusing promptly, Africa smiled, finding the pretty gaze of her friend as motivation. "Our God will know who’s best suited to rebuild your... our wall. Let’s leave that choice in his hooves?" He was wise beyond their mortal comprehension, all-knowing, all-seeing. Had not Africa been set to serve both Him and the herd as Diviner many suns ago? She felt content relinquishing such a crucial appointment- actually, the meek one-winged wished she could hand their choice of Gladiator over as well.

The smile faded quickly, and her modest features were overwhelmed with dismay. Ampere had pulled together an unsuccessful tournament to determine the most suitable candidate to head the Throat’s army- she squirmed at the thought. "A Gladiator should be chosen quickly too." Waves of guilt began to surge through her core and Africa shifted uncomfortably. "Without one our home is so vulnerable." She thought of Dalibor first, who had been active since their return from the caves- more so than any other; and of Hector who patrolled regularly on his own accord. There were a couple of others, but the dappled mare couldn’t readily recall seeing them, relying more on rumour of their attendance, not so recently. "I feel so uncomfortable about it," she admitted swallowing hard, "How might you choose someone dependable enough to lead troops through war?" Waiting eyes glinted as the sun pierced the shade, a warm breeze rustling the leafy canopy above. Curiously they watched Sohalia, not certain that someone so pristine to look at might know the answer.

[Ooc: Go for it. Might as well get as much covered as we can :D]