Hearing that a member of the Throat had seen much the same as her own daughter and fellow members of the Qian, Mirage's gut unclenched a tension she was unaware she was holding. It was not that she had misbelieved them, only hoped that what they had seen had not been misinterpreted. That this Valentine had seen the same thing, and read it the same way, gave her some hope that they would return. Mirage concurred with Kri's fierce words, a small nod given as she wished for their swift return. Kri spoke further of the God's own children, and it was again a comfort to know that they felt similarly on the matter - the demigods of Helovia would be their salvation - or else they were all doomed anyway..

More words of loyalty were spoken, more resonating hums of partnership, promise, and determination. With each sentence given by the chocolate liege, Mirage's own confidence grew, as she was reminded just why they were friends, why they were each a leader of a herd, why they held their titles against all who would threaten to take them away. They had both suffered in their places, both been threatened, tested, both successful in holding their ranks despite the flow of time and the constant barrage of challenges they faced, both from other mortals and even immortals that would test their mettle. They were here because they worked together, and they would stride together into the future and continue to reap their rewards.

There was no way Mirage was allowing this plan to be heard by ears other than Kri's, as she lifted her maw to the level of the Resolute's ear, and whispered in a voice barely audible, a plan she hoped would change the way their enemies thought of them. With a breath, she let the words pass from her lips, and with another breath, she stopped them, moving her muzzle down the nape of the leader, nudging gently as if to check that the words were successfully received. Once she gained acknowledgement, she raised her voice to normal levels again, and tried to bring forth conversation that would divert from the precious information she had just departed with.

"I hope no more have tried to challenge you for your title since our last meet?" Mirage's own title had never been challenged for, not directly, not by one whom she had welcomed to the herd, called family, loved and cared for. Such betrayal would have shaken the mare to her core - she reflected on the way the Resolute had dealt with each of the insults that came her way, how she had defeated them banished them.