Though he is not particularly interested in the responses and reactions of those he leaves behind after the meeting, Ilaria's hazel eyes glimpse an exchange - a familiar face - that she believes Cera would be interested in. From Bellanaris' withers she reaches out along the bond, overtaking Cera's vision with images of Hector's possessive embrace of Amani. The slight swell of her sides. Over the dunes, Cera's gait skips a beat and he falters, not sure what to make of the fact that not only had Amani returned, but she was apparently pregnant. By Hector? The bitter feeling in his throat only intensified recalling Hector's continued pleas for a reunion and an apology. Cera had not entertained the request yet, and wasn't sure when he would. Undoubtedly he would, but he was not ready to forgive just yet. Not when he had so many other emotions to sift through outside of Hector's silent return to the Throat. 

And here was another soul he'd once cared for, returned to the sands without seeking him out. Clearly she'd been in the Throat long enough to conceive and attend a herd meeting, and Cera bitterly wondered why she had not come to see him first after all they'd been through. After their friendship, and Cera gently stealing her away from the Falls when she felt that Elsa had abandoned her. Had they not been friends? And yet he and Hector had been friends as well. With a violent snort Cera cast the thoughts away, not wanting to think any further on petty betrayal and loneliness. He had enough to deal with. 

The time past the meeting is a blur of senseless toiling and wandering. He doesn't want to return to the Falls to tell Ranjiri the news she'd once told him when Midas had fallen. He didn't want to leave his daughter either, and he used her presence as an excuse to keep him tethered to the sands. 

His name draws his attention, pace pausing and neck arching to turn and recognize who it is calling him. With a soft, unheard sigh he turned and walked towards the cocoa woman to speak with her. "Amani. How are you?" It was gentle but a little stilted, not as warm as he once had been with her. Like everyone else she had disappeared and when at last she returned, he had apparently not been deemed worthy of the announcement. 

Emeralds flicker to swollen flanks. "Congratulations. Hector, right?" There was no point in saying he'd seen them at the meeting, it didn't hold much weight to him. One hip cocked back, trying to appear nonchalant even as the tension of his frame did not ease. 

OOC HERE