Tender, wondering eyes waded through the new body of indifference; unfeelingness which rose like an impassable river before his scarlet-red eyes. She was concerned, undoubtedly, and even as the low murmur of recognition, through a detached voice spilt from his blood-drenched lips Africa found little comfort there, standing by someone who had been changed through the torture of time. She could not have hoped to guess what had numbed her friend's soul so terribly; not presume to understand the method which lurked behind the barrier before him. Desperately though, the young Oracle wanted to reach out to him, to reconnect with him and to find that well hidden heart which she truly did care so much for.

Silas stirred in the tree above, shifting his slight weight awkwardly- moved by the unsettled leak of emotion through the hot, beating mood of his beloved. It was not something he had expected, nor something that he was overly thrilled to experience. For a long while Africa had not suffered, and he squirmed uneasily at the prospect of her inner turmoil reigniting.

Voodoo recoiled from her touch, and they sensitive young grey could not deny the wrench which churned her stomach in that moment. His balk was perhaps something she had been expecting, but in no way was she prepared for the ruthlessness of his rejection. Shyly she too drew back, tucking her nose close against the steaming flesh of her own chest; long dark lashes closing quickly and tightly around devastated eyes; retreating with muffled and sliding steps through the forest litter.
When again they parted (hesitantly), the brightness of day flooding through, Africa was startled to find a white maiden standing with the stallion and the breath choked in her throat, provoking a cough of sorts to evade clenched teeth. Africa had noticed no sign or sound of the eerie strangers approach; it was as though a ghost had settled beside him, and she could feel the sudden outrage form explosively in the core of her companion. An angry raptor cry peeled through the air, and the grey's long ears balanced uncertainly backwards, quivering as her face rose as far from the specter like creature as she could manage.

As it released its own blood-curdling screech at that moment and before the Zephyr had a chance to swing down to defend the pair, another bird- enormous; far larger than he, fell with ravenous claws towards the intruder. Again Silas cried in anger, fluttering forward should either creature dare strike at Africa, but they did not. Both lifted into the air, the white creature's head slumped down morbidly as it was carried away, gripped tightly by the throat. Riled, the raven-bird swept after the predator and its prey in a blaze of shimmering starlight.

As silence finally fell upon the grave meeting below, Africa's horror filled eyes sought Voodoo's. The stallion muttered something beneath his breath, though the one-winged mare's ears could only fathom the frightened pulse which throbbed through her mind. The Threshold had become something unfamiliar to Africa. Once she had been free to play and scavenge through the old, woody wilderness without care or thought; the faces who had crossed her path were seldom threatening. Now however, she seemed to fall upon these foul situations too regularly- crazed mares, crude stallions, flailing magic and death and destruction. A cold shiver crawled the length of her short spine, though still the warmth of the day was intense, and the feeble-hearted mare swayed indecisively in place.
She could not part with Voodoo like this; could not abandon a friend, though she wished deeply for the comfort and security of her homeland right then.

"What are you going to do?" she asked suddenly, her voice still trembling while her frayed nerves still arced violently through her slim, elegant frame. "I don't want to leave you." Africa admitted, failing to meet his eye as her own drifted timidly downwards to sprawl in a puddle across the ground. She wanted to bring him home; to look after him and more than anything rebuild the friendship which had been but a malnourished runt.


Tagged: @[Voodoo]