Sometimes, the Transcended found it amusing how little things changed. This, unfortunately, was not one of those times.

She had been flying. Vinati was safe at the oasis, looked after by some of the other mares. It had been some time since Sohalia had been able to stretch her wings, and it was a beautiful day. - A flight will do you good, - Astraeus told her, cawing affectionately at her as he took to the skies himself. She had quickly followed, if only to escape the nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right.

She had returned to the Dragon's Throat, and Gaucho had seemed pleased - she had borne him a healthy daughter, with whom he seemed enthralled. But for all that, she might as well have been a leaf fluttering by on a breeze. She had hurt him by staying away, she knew that - but how many times had he hurt her? How many times had she set aside her wants and needs for a stallion that had never tried to understand them? She wanted to be a family again - to be there for her children and her mate both. And yet...

"Agh -" she grimaced, her wings flexing to pull her higher into the air. Astraeus flew alongside her, his body raining golden sparks. Oh, what she wouldn't give for her life to be simple again. She remembered when it had all began, remembered when she and her mate had been a ruling pair. They had been happy then, hadn't they? No - Gaucho was gone more often than not, possessed by the evil Moon Goddess and forced to murder so many innocent horses. Skysong leapt unbidden into her thoughts, deepening her frown and inciting a twinge of guilt. He had killed her daughter, and still she loved him. What was wrong with her?

A shape on the shore caught her attention and memories of her time as a Forger and then a Sultana drove her to approach. Even if she was no more than a visitor, perhaps she could find some way to be of service and distract herself. Too late, she noticed the flaming form of her (former?) mate approaching. But she was almost there, and to turn away now would be to broadcast loud and clear that something was off between them. So she continued anyway, gritting her teeth in preparation to paste a smile on her face and get on with it.

Parelia was not a name that she was familiar with, nor was the form of the pegasus known to her. She touched down on the sand far enough away to avoid spraying the stranger and Gaucho, then came to a halt at a polite distance. Her first nod was to the WildFire (would he notice the hardness in her eyes?), and then she offered a genuine smile to the newcomer. She waited. It was no longer her place to speak up.

"talk talk talk"

@Parelia @Gaucho

Brighter than the northern lights
Want to live to feel the daylight