The Peacock’s unusual scarlet eyes roamed from the couple, the bird and the mare, but the Starry-Eyed remained oblivious. Her focus had centred on her companion who was touched by her consideration and care, but thought little of her idea that he should find greater happiness with a mate of his own kin.

By nature zephyrs were private, solitary nomads who soared for months on end with little contact with the earth – of course they needed to hunt or forage, but in general they were seldom seen. Silas was more than content with the bond shared with his beloved, they were inseparable and he tended to her with all the devotion he might give to any Roc mate. It seemed too that the magnificent bird paused before them understood this on some deeper level; the star-glitter zephyr had neither the time or interest to pursue such a consuming venture.

Fina was fascinating, beautiful indeed, but they were mismatched.

Africa shifted as her bonded’s thoughts tangled through her own, confused because in spite of their intricate relationship (without him there would be nothing, death, surely), there was another who tempted her heart and tickled her fancy. Perhaps it was that the equines were communal species, they craved herds and families instinctively; they were in fact the polar opposite of zephyrs. The dappled mare sighed pensively and passed her eyes across the glowing walls of the dark cavern. What could she possibly ask the generous Peacock for then? To her relief the bird’s ancient tongue grew through her mind again.

In the same moment, her body seemed to heat, her blood to boil – a sensation that perhaps one might feel if they were to sip the molten lava pooling in the heart of Helovia; she was aglow too, sunlight bursting form every orifice. There was no pain however, and her still slim frame shuddered visibly with pleasure. Silas, startled from his post, hovered by the cold, damp stone ceiling and watched in cautious wonder as his beloved was touched by the warmth of magic for the second time in as many weeks – the Earth too had gifted her special power to heal. Almost as quickly as it had swept through her however, the glow vanished and her core cooled immediately with no ill effect.

Eyes still a little glazed and drunk turned towards the Peacock and a smile was rising through her expression... but he was gone, vanished, and Africa jumped with surprise. Where is he? she asked Silas whose claws had returned to caress the dappled pelt pulled across her hips, but the zephyr could not answer, the bird had simply disappeared amid the nearly blinding flash, before the darkness had settled again around them. The one-winged mare shivered, turning, glancing all about the room. As they crept at last back up the tunnel toward the daylight, they found no trace of the parrot flock – all was eerily quiet.

"Thank you..." she whispered into the chill air, almost certain it had not all been just a dream.

Africa