Withers twitched with curious excitement, a natural energy that seemed only to swell as the Gallant beamed in response and then spoke. Not for a moment did her thoughts stray to the strangely tattooed, leather-winged stallion waiting back home for her, poor form perhaps; but as always, the company of the black and white stallion before her filled the void of ever present loneliness, of uncertainty and insecurity. There seemed to be no reason to think about anything else- except of course for Laedere, who she listened to also with forward fixed ears. She did not notice the stillness of her bonded’s clever mind, he was not questioning her now; not pushing doubt upon her, wary of the feelings he knew were weak and so far, terribly shallow. He watched from above with a doting eye, pleased with her company now; and happy with his own.

When silence fell across them, shifting green and pale cream drew her sparkling eyes away, and she found herself staring innocently for a moment at the gaping, featherless hole. “Laedere?” she asked quietly, distracted momentarily as the flaming form of Fina burst from the bough shared by Silas. Her own starry companion bounced in place as the branch missed the other Zephyr’s weight with opened wings, watching, admiring, and as soon after her as could be, the Roc ascended to follow- to guard, he decided vainly, not that any in their right mind would dare cross her path he was sure. “Does it hurt? Will you be alright to travel?” Africa stepped towards the exotic mare with trembling lips pursed and reaching to try and brush tenderly the damaged wing. She meant not to pry, and certainly not to hurt, and with softly fluttering nostrils remembered the excruciating wound left when her own appendage had been torn away.

She would be forever indebted to Hellena, to Smoke and the twins.

Africa thought of the Earth Amulet she had gifted to the boy Marco perhaps half a year ago. She’d heard nothing of the colt since, and presumed him lost to the Darkness like so many others had been. It was a grim fate to presume, and she’d prayed for many months for his wellbeing- he had never returned to the Throat though. The amulet would have been a handy thing to have if Laedere thought herself too weak to cross the country. It was a futile contemplation however and she shrugged the idea vaguely with rolling grey shoulders beneath cloth. She didn’t regret the decision, she never would.