Nothing the other two did or said could have moved Gaucho's gaze from Ophelia once she declared herself one of the rulers of the Basin. It was like the world was crashing down upon him all at once. He no longer needed to challenge the leader of the Basin; he had her right in front of him.

Ophelia had seemed so... so reasonable. To his primitive mind it made little to no sense. Even Mara couldn't make heads or tails of the situation. Ophelia had been the one giving the orders? She led the Basin? Snorting Gaucho looked from Ophelia to Hotaru and back, confusion welling in his dark gaze. Ophelia had stood there while Hotaru departed with him, unwilling to fight. And yet the spy had told him in the Throat that she was only following orders, why then would she allow herself to be taken? We not point out the real mastermind who was standing right there. Was that why Ophelia was surprised when Hotaru showed up freely at his side? Did she want the spy to have to take the blame and punishment for an act that the paler unicorn demanded? Just what the fuck was going on in the Basin?

Not only that, but without Ophelia Gaucho would have never had his memories restored by the Sun God. She knew who he was perhaps better than any, for she had seen into the depths of his mind. She knew that this would be his only response to the attempted attacks on his family. There had been no inciting incident that called for their behavior towards the Throat (at least so far as He and Hotaru could recall), nor had any attempts been made by the unicorns to seek whatever it is they wanted through regular means.

Ophelia had to have known that all of this would have happened, and yet she let it happen anyways.

It made no sense.

Unless of course she was just still angry about their 'spar'.

"Not allies." He agreed with a grunt, his stern gaze falling upon Ophelia solidly. "But Gaucho apologize for what happened and you help Gaucho. Spy say she told to steal from Throat. Why?!" His voice rose into a snarl as he took a step forward, asking the very same question he had asked of Hotaru when they spoke in the Throat. "Why enemies? Why you take? You say you want to see Soh. Talk about Academy, but say we not allies. Maybe not, but enemies not a part of Academy either. So why start this? Silk only one who try to take from Basin - and he try to take her. A spy for a spy. Gaucho come when he fail. Spy come willingly, say it wasn't her idea, so Gaucho let her go. Then Gaucho want to talk to leader. You."

If the Basin wanted to continue their feigned strength by stealing baubles that was one thing, but Gaucho wanted to hear her say it. If this was to become a war, he would have her, before the two witnesses, admit that it was over nothing.

"So why Oh-feel-ya. Why you do this?"