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The rest of the morning seemed to blur as Africa sailed through its latter hours, aloft and elated, pursuing with undying eagerness the invisible trail leading to home. Her skilled watchful eyes scoured the blend of patchwork landscapes below as they trickled in motion beneath her swift and progressive passage.
Occasionally and without concern, the dapple grey would shift a sidewards glance on the down-beat to smile warmly, should Manami’s movement be level and her attention looking Africa’s way. Spread across the advantage of wings, the distance between the Threshold and Dragon’s Throat was manageable and on a clear day, could stretch the good part of a few hours- Helovia was a vast and formidable country and not one to be underestimated, the raw young horse had learned quickly throughout her short time there.
She wasted little energy, guiding her new herd-sister expertly through the powerfully swirling wind currents, where frigid ocean gales collided with the mild and subdued breezes of the inland air. Periodically, Africa would find the friction to be quite unstable where crossing was unavoidable and her feathers would ripple against the barraging cycles of air, a shimmering array of sun-stroked grey tones and black.
Below, she noted their advancement to be about half way- the rolling sea of shining golden Meadow grass transforming gradually into the naked, rusty hued soils of Helovia’s Heart, a place where Africa still dared not venture. As they flew above the smouldering centre of the countryside, she could easily spot the flames licking hungrily upwards, and subconsciously altered their direction to navigate a little further west. She was not enamoured by the notion of swimming through the thick pluming cloud of choking smoke, where it climbed higher still, than the bob of her beating wings.
The final leg of the journey was straightforward enough. Any white puffs of cloud that had scattered across Africa’s path had long been left behind, and now all that spread before them was the jagged red horizon below the wide blue band of sky; brutal sandstone cliffs and precipices, which tightly fenced the Throat’s luscious, thriving heartland. Far in the distance, those rocky crags fell away into the unforgiving thrash of the ocean, and the spray as the lashing waves crashed, tinged the mild breeze with salt as it rose to greet Africa’s fluttering nostrils. The comforting warmth of the desert’s daylight hours embraced them, a contrast to the chilled Orangemoon air which now hung perpetually throughout the bulk of Helovia.
Africa dipped her wings as the sudden emergence of emerald and sapphire through the heat haze unfurled ahead and down a way, almost smothered by the rich hue of the domineering red sand dunes; it was the oasis.
The downward slide was easy, the air relaxed and comfortably penetrable, and Africa’s hooves sliced securely into the thick carpet of sweet green grass as she landed. The oasis was lit by the chorus of exotic, flamboyant birdlife- most entertaining if, like Africa, time was set aside to observe. Naturally, the young grey passed a sweeping glance around the open parcel of land, though she found none to meet their arrival; Busy, busy... she smiled assuredly to herself. Around them, the oasis was bedded frequently with a fantastic wash of mid-season annuals, burnt with strange mixes of oranges and reds, violet and magenta, white and indigo; exotic indeed, and a wonderful treat for botanists such as Africa. Messy clusters of cane palm and wild junipers grew randomly though often, and an abundance of desert bull grass burst in strawy clumps throughout the blanket of grass. The young horse smiled, always overwhelmed by the beauty of their sanctuary, given the harsh, unforgiving climate outside.
Turning quietly Africa instinctively sought Manami’s first impression- she always hoped secretly that her guests would be spellbound by such an amazing place, or that they would be pleased at least. “Welcome home, sister.” She chortled with satisfaction, increasingly keen to show Manami around the indulging comforts of the Throat.
"Thinking. Speaking. Acting."
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![[Image: 515b833f251f3]](http://images.helovia.net/index.php/view/515b833f251f3)
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[O] Yeah, This Dream Keeps Us Together [Manami, Open]
