Phae could feel Stella's nervousness as they walked through the forest - Stella flying, and Phae walking swiftly beneath her. The little bird still did not understand why Phae would chose to place herself in a forest that she couldn't fly through - although the bond between the two was still fresh, Stella already understood the sooty's mare's love of the sky, and how many times her speed and strength in that area had saved her life. "They are our family." Phae explained, choosing to speak verbally to the little chick, rather than projecting her message. Stella was still incapable of speaking verbally, but how was she to learn if she was never spoken to? Still, sometimes it was simply easier....Phae projected the image of Tio, the stallion she had met in the Threshold earlier. Stella returned Phae's message with an image of his sickly green eyes, and a shudder. Phae nodded. "The Grey needs to know." She said soothingly, smiling up at the small bird. Stella's bright orangey-yellow face did not relax at this, yet she trusted Phae enough to follow her, even if she had no idea who they were going to see.

Halting deep into the forest, Phae neighed loudly, but only once, letting the sound echo through the trees. They will come, she thought confidently. They always seemed to know when they were needed, as if their bond of allegiance somehow tethered them together. Maybe it did - Phae had never been a part of any group before, and was ignorant in this regard. All she knew, was that when Phi had sent her into the forest to meet Ktu, the mare was there. When she brought Apollo home from the Threshold, Ktu again, was there. And when Leander showed up seeking an audience with The Grey, almost all of them were there. She had never called for their council before, but something told her that they needed to be aware of Tio and his plans to take over. They also should be aware of the offer he made her, and how she ought to handle this situation.

She hoped that Ophelia would come to this meeting; Phae felt lost without Phi's council. She hadn't been given any real clear instruction about her obligations when it came to her position in the Intelligence Division, although she was trying to take her rank as seriously as she could. She had stolen an amulet, told Leander of The Grey, practised moving silently, and had won her first spar against Aisha. She now had a new companion, although she was unsure whether that would matter to The Grey or not. Still, a bird ought to be a useful tool for a spy? That bird, chittered nervously as she landed on Phae's back. Although she was growing larger, the black and white chick was still small enough to burrow herself into Phaedra's mane. Grabbing pieces of sandy hair, Stella twisted them around her into a cocoon, and trilled uneasily as they waited.

Join the waves in the ocean?
Or let my soul fade away in the dark?
Because i've gone astray,
& all my flowers turned to dandelions.