Whatever the Transcended might have expected from the Sunspear, to hear that her daughter was missing was decidedly not it.  A frown immediately formed on her face, sympathy in her eyes.  She understood Megaera's pain all too well, and it was not something she would wish even upon her worst enemy.  Even now, several of her children had taken their leave of the Throat, leaving Sohalia longing to see their familiar forms on the horizon.  One day, perhaps, they would come home... but until then, she would dedicate herself to the herd that she had left behind one too many times.  If her children wanted to find her, they would surely return here, if only to look for Gaucho as a starting place.  A painful twinge twisted in her chest as she realized that one day, she would have to tell her children that their father was now no more than ash upon the sands.

The mare swallowed her pain, reaching her muzzle out to the Sunspear.  "I am so very sorry," she whispered.  "If I can do anything..."  She knew how hollow the offer would sound in her own ears were she in Megaera's place, so she allowed her voice to trail off.  There was nothing in the world that would make this better - and at this point, coming home might just make it worse.  After all, the Throat was now all but leaderless, and Megaera hadn't been here during one of their most difficult times.  Sohalia knew her own guilt about leaving had been overwhelming, and she suspected that the warrior matron would feel the same.

It was at that moment that a great many things began to happen at once.  Einarr, a stallion who the ivory dove had only briefly met (or had they?), appeared by Megaera's side, and Sohalia was forced to look away at their affectionate greeting.  It was so like the one she might have shared with Gaucho once upon a time, right down to the language they used to greet each other.  Her heart, already broken into a thousand pieces, seemed to shatter a little more at the realization that she would never again hear his rough voice speaking his guttural language.  She would never again be his moon, as he would never again be her sun.

Except he would always be her sun.  Ayyey.

And then children were appearing, and it didn't take much of a leap to figure out that these were Megaera's and Einarr's.  The Transcended thought about leaving, slipping away with a quiet farewell to allow the small family their privacy - but Einarr asked her what had happened in their absence, and suddenly she felt rooted to the spot.  Why did it have to be her to tell them the news?  Why, when she could hardly face a day that went by without breaking into tears?  Why was it on her shoulders to ruin their reunion?  But she couldn't not tell them either.  Somehow, it seemed almost fitting that she - the WildFire's mate - would be the one to speak of his untimely end.

With a deep breath, she willed her watering eyes to clear, swallowing the lump in her throat that threatened to choke her.  "Much has happened," she admitted, a certain edge in her voice that betrayed how difficult it was for her to keep her emotions in check.  "I... there is no easy way... Gaucho... he's..."  Oh, how she wished she didn't have to say it!  "He's dead."  When her words came, they were a whisper, a choked, tight sound of pain and guilt and anguish.  She sucked in a shaky breath, forcing her lips into a tight line.  She would not break.  He wouldn't have wanted to hurt her, especially not like this.

Oh, how she wished she could take it all back.  Everything that she'd said, everything that she'd thrown in his face that night.  He had only ever wanted her, to please her.  It was her own damn fault that he hadn't had the chance - that they hadn't really had the chance - to be happy.

The rest of her news tumbled out in a rush.  "The Sun God came and named Sikeax Sultana.  He said that he was 'breaking the chain' of warrior leaders - I'm not sure he said why, or if he has hinted at what is to come next, if anything.  There has not yet been a second lead chosen.  It was all... very recent.  The Throat mourns, so it has been quiet."  She dared a glance toward the couple, afraid to see their expressions for fear they would reflect her own barely-controlled feelings back at her.

"Talk talk talk."
Astraeus.

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