The meeting devolved quickly into anger and shouting.

The dove had not expected that everyone would have the same ideas moving forward, but nor had she expected such unbridled animosity towards their newly crowned Sultana.  Of course, she hadn't thought that Sikeax would immediately brand an outcast band a threat to be detained.  Though she understood the prior Physician's reasoning - Sohalia, too, would rather err on the side of caution when it came to potential threats - she could not condone the imprisonment of individuals who had done nothing wrong.  She did not want to wait for them to attack - and oh, what a wonderful time this would be for them to do just that! - but she, like so many others in the assembled group, needed proof that they would cause a problem before acting so strongly against them.

The mare remained silent as many of her herdmates spoke against the Sultana's decree.  Hers was a voice that did not need to be added to the fray, not when there were so many arrayed against Sikeax already.  Still, she did not speak in favor of the mare's plan, either.

A memory surfaced:  two unicorns lingered at the edge of the water, standing on the mainland as though waiting for something.  Lena and Rexanna had invited them - indeed, all of the herds, all of Helovia - to a festival in the north.  Perhaps this could help them in this matter with which they were suddenly faced.  "I've a thought, if I may?" the Transcended interjected, smiling slightly in an attempt to diffuse the tension that lingered in the herd before continuing.  "Not a week past, Rexanna and Lena, two unicorns from the Aurora Basin, visited our shores to offer an invitation to a festival to be held in their herdland.  They gave me the details to spread amongst our herd.  All of the herds - indeed, all of Helovia - have been invited.  Perhaps we could use this as a diplomatic opportunity to gather more information about this outcast group?  If the other herds have had experience dealing with them, or perhaps if we can get information from the group itself... perhaps we can find out what they want, and we don't have to jump into anything without knowing more."

"talk talk talk"

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