The feelings shared between the mares was welcomed; Mirage had truly felt afraid as her opinion lingered between them, hanging so openly amongst the ether, that it was not mutually felt, but to hear Couth's own reassurance of reciprocity the charred little shadow mare visibly relaxed. Bonds such as these were knew to her, one might be surprised to learn, but she had found the more she made the more she welcomed them, with those worthy of forging them. Rishima would always be her true sister, their lifetime spent together wouldn't ever be misplaced by the maiden. But Mirage's capacity for love was large, greater than most 'normal' beings; it was why she had founded the Qian, why every single of those who called themselves Qian held a spot within her breast - she honestly cared, and loved, all of them.

"She is as protective of the Qian as I am." Mirage reassured the pale maiden of her dragon's subtle, but constant, presence. She was glad that Couth did not shirk away from such things, that she embraced them, even encouraged them. Akaith's presence was difficult to recognise, usually she was physically present to keep an eye on the happenings of those whom she cared about, but for those she sensed could accept such a presence of mind, she enjoyed to have that link. A curious note was sung within the crown of Mirage by Akaith, silent to one's ears, it told of the presence of another, the news of which left a smirk upon the little shadow's lips. She did nothing to suggest that the presence of her sister, Rishima, might ever be unwelcome; quite the opposite.

The question posed by Couth then as their forms drifted towards cooler parts of the Heart (much to Mirage's preference) caused a moment of pause; none had asked her directly about the deep and unending love that so clearly existed between her and her draconic mate. She had informed her siblings of it, but only in her usual, fleeting, cryptic way, leaving them to fill in the blanks as they saw fit. Let them assume what they would; let them play their games against her mate, Mirage had faith that he would cope with them and so by doing nothing more than setting up the playing field she encouraged the games to begin. With a soft peal of harmonic laughter the mare welcomed her moonbeam sibling to make their duo a trio, she leaned lovingly into the pseudo-dominant embrace Rishima bestowed upon her shorter, stockier form.

"He is a steed worthy of your trust, little moonbeam." Mirage reiterated to her sister the first thing she had said about him, that most interesting evening when the taller sibling had happened across Mirage dancing a vibrant, intoxicating step in order to rid herself of energies that would otherwise have promoted new life to be planted within her - she was grateful Rishima had happened upon her that day, and not her brothers. "He is an honourable stallion, a bronze in his own right." Quieter, more sincere tones fell from her lips, a fond, affectionate smile infecting her entire façade -for a moment, she probably looked love-drunk. But it was only a moment, and the deep, thoughtful expression returned.

You are a dragon, and so too is he. Akaith's melodic hum voiced in her mind, but it had an extra sort of echo to it -Mirage realised that she had voiced her thoughts to all those present, holding back nothing as she poured her honest trust and devotion to the stallion not only to Mirage, but to Couth and Rishima too. No others could ever compare. With a definitive huff, the dragon retracted her thoughts from the others, leaving them all to wander these barren, ashy lands with only their own thoughts to echo about their tiaras. Mirage was grateful, more than ever before, for her dragon's presence and existence right then and there. Akaith, usually vain in her acceptance of her bonded's loving feelings, merely commented that it needed to be said, and diverted her attention to Rishima's curious new pendant and egg -she was especially interested in the egg, and chortled excitedly, jumping from Mirage's back to the crescent shaped patch of ivory upon Rishima's hide.