It never occurred to Africa that he could see less than she in the grim hour of murk and star-shimmer. Even as the dark silhouette of a stallion’s body stepped slowly into view, ashen face lifted higher as though into the grace of warm luminosity so that he might realise her passivity – the curious attentiveness of long sooty ears, the gentle flutter of thick lashes and humble posture crouched beneath it all. Although her demeanour displayed naught but a mirror into the benevolent nature of her soul, dappled, mottled hide rippled with uncertainty and the thick muscle wrought through her elegant frame coiled down in waiting.

This time, she would be ready to spring away...

But for a small time the stance of the shadow-cloaked stallion seemed barely to shift - only the soft return of an echoing murmur, tempted forward her unwavering interest. Pale, golden eyes strained through the dark, tracing each delicate curve she could find – a horn, or an antler, visible only where it branched from pale, flaxen hair. He began to move suddenly though, and thudding steps upon the spongy loam grew louder as he came. Africa’s weight swayed in place as though torn in half by the urge of her primal instincts. She called hurriedly for the night-savvy sight of her bonded to read for her the language of the stallion’s body and the zephyr purred from the arms of the tree; not attacking... I think.

It was well that he slowed, because a spontaneous spew of adrenaline was igniting a furious fire beneath flinching skin, and fuelling that primitive want to flee.

The waltz of fire through her gloriously long, thick mane and the tail draped between hocks and along through the grass to her rear, cast a playful golden light all around her. As the steed drew as close as perhaps he felt he ought, the expression on his face was revealed - grinning enrapture - and the one-winged mare let a quiet smile rise at last though her own expression. His rich green eyes (warmed by the heatless glow of firelight), were not searching for hers however, and a soft snort betrayed her growing amusement. “It is,” she whispered back, eyes examining the fascination ripe throughout his features. “Touch it!” she suggested beneath a giggle, and lowered fine face to the earth.