The sound of hooves in a forest known for it's multitude of strangers was sure to attract attention. Newcomers were rivaled in numbers only by those who sought to procure them to strengthen the numbers of their own herds, to further their own agendas - and the rare few who actually roamed the shaded region in search of someone to help.

Shadow had no illusions on what group she belonged to. It was duty that brought her to the hot, dry forest that suffered beneath the relentless glare of the sun, and perhaps a secret, hidden desire to escape the merciless red desert that she was so ill suited for. She hadn't needed an order to take action, didn't bother the new Sultan with the quickly dwindling numbers of the herd - Midas was surely aware of this already. No, the Shadow was perfectly capable of remedying this slight problem herself, no matter how much she disliked the task of coercing naive strangers to follow and obey.

Violet eyes regarded the gray stallion critically from her perch high up in the canopy. He lacked wings, which was unfortunate, and the horn upon his brow was enough to make the black raven wary. She'd had little good interaction with unicorns, knew only too well how dangerous their sharp spears were; her body carried the marks of them, a long jagged scar under her belly a telltale sign of how close she had been to loose her life.

But, it couldn't be helped. The herd she lived with didn't discriminate between races, and thus it wouldn't do for her to allow the northerners to snatch this one away before she'd had a go at him. With a sigh the little pegasus slipped off the branch and spread her raven wings wide, slowly ascending in tight spirals until hard, solid hooves touched upon the ground. Folding the massive appendages to her sides she tucked away the prize she had taken from the enemy who dared to harm her, hiding the brown, branchlike horn beneath a well-tucked wing; then she approached the gray with unconcerned ease, openly scrutinizing him as she came closer.

"Well met, stranger" she said with a curt nod, cutting the chase before there could be any doubt about why she was there. "You are new in these lands, I presume? I know a place where you can rest and heal your wounds, recuperate and find a purpose. My name is Skuggi, I hail from the Dragon's Throat far south of here where Midas the Gallant rule. What is your name?"

Tact.. for one of her profession it was necessary, but today the blackbird was in no mood for subtleties. She had made her offer; the unnamed stud could either take it or leave it.

The wound had weakened him, she could both see and smell the sickness that clung to his skin. It was in the dull gleam of the eyes, in the feeble voice, in the weary breaths. Shadow sighed silently within, cursing her luck for finding an injured horse when she knew little to nothing about injuries and healing. It was not within her range of expertise to treat patients, nor did she have much skill when it came to sooth and support anxious strangers.

She started to nod as his name was revealed to her, but stopped in mid-motion as the sound of wings on air reached her ears. Eyes narrowed as the black raven turned to stare at the white mare that came circling down towards the ground, suspicious yet remaining where she was; were they comrades? It didn't seem like it, even though the concern of the young girl would have suggested otherwise. Perhaps she simply had a gentler heart than the crow, who's chest already had been scarred too deeply to let others too close - especially not strangers who's allegiance she knew nothing of.

Regarding the dove and the unicorn for a moment, Shadow eventually nodded to herself. Why not. She had offered refuge to one; why not to the other as well?
"I know you must be tired" she said as she turned back to Virus, "but this is no place to rest. Too many pass through here, too many predators feast on the ones who are weak or foolish enough to linger. It would be best if you followed me south; we have healers there, and plenty of food and water. You will be welcome, and can stay as long as you like."

"Of course, you are welcome to join as well" she added with a glance towards the pale bird, an afterthought that wasn't quite as sudden as it might seem.

"Come now, on your feet." Without caring about eventual protests she stepped in closer to the dark stallion, her black wing neatly folded against an equally black hide as she tried to make him stand - ready to support him if needed, and motioning to the nameless girl to aid him on the other side.

"Don't worry" she tried to reassure them both, her voice slightly milder than before. "The Dragon's Throat isn't as harsh a place to live as it might sound; they have good hearts there, and you will be most welcome."