The billy-bumbler smiled as Ophelia took the rose, appearing almost relieved as she did so. It nodded enthusiastically as Ophelia lowered and offered her shoulder for him to climb up. The bumbler looked to Tinek for a moment, and then folded its dexterous hands together and nodded. It knew that the two were bonded, and while Ophelia would know its appreciation soon enough, Tinek could be thanked now. "'anks" It muttered towards the pale dragon. Opening its eyes, it reached for the delicate crevasses in Ophelia's armor, pulling its delicate and light body onto her back. It weighed significantly less than Tinek, so her movements were not hindered any more than usual by its weight, as Ophelia raced away from the coming storm.

As her hooves pounded against the terrain, the creature muttered to itself, casting glances behind it every now and then as they left the storm behind them. Something wasn't right - it wasn't a starkblast that was coming - but it felt like one. It resonated within the bumbler's bones, causing it to fret and continue to mutter as Ophelia ran them away from whatever imminent threat the storm posed.

But what about the non-imminent threat? The threat which was coming, but had not yet arrived?

Something was a-hungry, and it was a-commin'. The bumbler just didn't know who, or when.

Once the worst of the storm appeared far enough away in the distance, the bumbler patted Ophelia's neck urgently asking her to halt. It stood up on her back, balancing with expert poise, staring at the red clouds. They appeared to have dispersed .. or were dispersing. Still, the blood soaked sky with its holes of darkness were not normal. Something was happening. This temporary reprieve meant nothing to the Bumbler. If anything, it only signaled things would be worse.

Rolling off of Ophelia's shoulders, the creature wrung its hands while looking at the crimson-stained mare. It patted its head, as if trying to remember something as its gold-ringed eyed narrowed. With hesitation or regard for personal space, the bumbler reached up and grabbed the rose. It began to diligently pick the petals off of the core of the flower, clutching them in one hand until the job was complete.

"Fee-lah." It commanded, using its other paw (which had dropped the stem) to make a 'come here' motion. It waited until she had lowered her head, before throwing the petals are her. Only, instead of hitting her bright white coat and floating to the ground, they disappeared.

As did her armor, but not before changing.

Her armor grew significantly lighter, but lost none of its strength. And in fact, it did not disappear at all - it merely moved. Elegant and lightweight chains glistened in Ophelia's tail and mane, looking like robust strands of tinsel amidst the shimmer of the Lost Stone shards.

" 'ommin'." It urged, pointing towards the disappearing storm. "-umfin' 'ommin'. Fee-lah be strong."