Interested in becoming a Sultan...

So.. She thought, Does that mean he intends to take over the Throat? That was a lofty goal, surely. Although Phae had never met Kri before, from Leander's tales of her, she seemed a worthy adversary. Although the sooty mare didn't have any intention of ever joining a typical herd, she did admire the Throat, if only from afar. Levi..Sohalia...Note.. Wistfully their names circled in her mind - would she warn them? Would Tio be a fair and just ruler? Or a dictator? Cocking her head inquisitively to the side, she considered this as she looked at the brindled stallion.

As Tio shifted the conversation to her, as she had just attempted to do to him, she suddenly felt defensive. She was definitely being manipulated; or others you feel close to, and just why would she answer that? So he could twist her words, and use the ones she loved against her? Lucky for her, there was only one who she had feelings for, and she couldn't exactly see Tio engaging the gay cinnamon stallion in any sort of shenanigans. Not with the entire Basin supporting him. Still, is wasn't as though she could simply refrain from answering - not without drawing suspicions.

"A girl's gotta have her secrets, sugar." She replied, feigning a demur and sheepish tone. As they moved through the heart, Phae let her tawny wings slump from her flanks, exposing her lithe body. The heat suddenly felt enormous, and Phae couldn't help but want to take to the air to escape it. There were dark patches of sweat underneath her wings, centralizing where her feathers were heaviest. Stretching her flight-appendages up towards the sky, she beat them a few times stirring the air and trying to cool herself off.

Looking back to Tio now, she scrutinized him, unable to shake the feeling of distrust that was beginning to well within in. "Besides, I'd rather hear more about the would-be Sultan." Arching a brow, she removed her gaze from his visage, looking instead to the desolate and burned landscape. Thankfully, the Veins were not so far ahead, and they would soon be out of this wicked heat.

[OOC: Crap. Ack. Since the veins are now 'destroyed' I suppose they'll go and just find them in ruins?]