Solemn gaze wandered after that of the fair Peacock when it turns towards the caged dove. Long lashes peeled apart rapidly, both startled and relieved as the steel vanished altogether and the bird fluttered free, before moving to join its colourfully cloaked kin upon a stone ledge.

Africa’s own quills and the empty follicles between prickled with pleasure, and a broad smile danced delightedly through her expression. Oh thank you! lips parted to cry, but the strange voice had already, once again filled her mind. The Peacock stepped away and the one-winged mare (with the zephyr aboard), travelled behind still deeper into the darkness.

Though parrots still squabbled and gossiped along the cold walls of the cave, she could no longer see them so clearly; could not draw their bright colour out of shadow. Small lamps cast a cool, subtle glow around them and on closer inspection, Africa found them to be delicate fungus like those in the beautiful underground forest below The Sanctuary. She could not recall them from when last she crawled through these depths, though she dared not dally to try. Again their journey came to a halt, and concerned eyes found the small figure of a conure nestled alone in a crook. She strained to observe him – quite opposite to those raucous cousins surrounding.

Their guide asked her about him. She thought suddenly to ask why all of these parrots were not basking in the sunlight, chewing timber and spreading wide their wings. It seemed so unnatural and absurd that they lined cave walls like night-loving bats. She stepped nearer to the small sunset bird, tracing its motionless, dejected silhouette with sympathetic eyes. She looked to its face, gazing into eyes that seemed hardly alive. Emotion swept through her core; loneliness, emptiness, all of which had possessed her when she had entered these tunnels such a long time ago. Is this how forlorn she had been?

Thoughts turned to Silas, her bonded – her strength and her heartbeat. They had emerged seasons later virtually as one, eager to begin a fresh chapter. They had never been truly apart since... Africa could not imagine her life without her other half.

A purpose... a family. The zephyr answered the Peacock’s spoken query, clever, nocturnal eyes picking his face easily through the darkness. What value is the life of a bird without a mate to preen, build a nest with, roost with and nurture young beside. I would think my brother here would like a mate. Don’t parrot’s form life-long bonds? All should have sounded to the distracted mare like only a muddle of clacks and murmurs. Neither he nor the pallid fowl shared psittacine blood with the conure, but he imagined any avian sought the same path to companionship from birth.

Though Silas knew well that he would never see nestlings of his own fledge, the passion and love shared between himself and the one-winged mare was enough to fill and satisfy his soul. Beak clacked shut and the elaborate crest descending his star-glittered neck flared fervently. He would have it no other way.

Golden light, warm contentment and affection tingled through both Africa and Silas, and the thoughtful grey shuddered visibly, a smile rising through the air of concern. "...and sunlight." she suggested as though adding extra to an answer she had already given; resolve spewing avidly through a lifted, secure tone.

Africa