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It did not pass Silas by unnoticed that his Phoenix equivalent still slept snugly, he looked for her with an eagerness concealed by much effort; night-sharp eyes hunting for the vibrant hue of her feathers where ever the painted stallion travelled. Curiosity stirred through the crevices of his young, expanding mind and it intensified each time Fina was close by to him. She was stubborn he thought, aloof and unfriendly; but his flimsy perception did little to soften the desire to relate with his own kind, and forge with her something greater than utter estrangement.
The journey passed quickly; the dapple grey was quite distracted by each in her company, and the effort it took to match the pace of their flight above. She could tell quickly that they sought to comfort the gravity of her curse by slowing their rate a little (Africa was all too aware of the swiftness granted by high altitude highways). Grateful though she was, the young Oracle pushed boldly into gallop, ignoring as best she could the sweat which leaked heavily across her puddled canvas and lathered between the rub of her legs- she was fitter and more adept to run then ever she had been while flighted. The light which seeped through the spinning landscape around her; the day unfolding across them all would be scorching, and Africa longed for the anticipated coolness of the cave they were hunting.
Her halt was gradual and began around the same moments of Gaucho’s artful descent. Long trembling legs resisted the urge to slow at first, blood and adrenaline fuelling their rush, and Africa was forced to curl her neck (a graceful manoeuvre notwithstanding the reason behind) and tuck her chin to force the cooperation of eager tendons; her mane hurling wildly forwards and lashing the still dawn air while she lurched, drawing at last to a standstill. While the stallions settled upon the hard packed earth around her, the puffed mare composed herself and slowed the pounding rate of her heart.
Without hesitation the group sank into the welcoming glow oozing up from the gaping fissure in the Heart and the cool shift to subterranean air embraced Africa’s hot frame instantly, causing the fine, sodden hair all over to prickle- the skin beneath the tingle. The dim cavern which opened around them was more beautiful then she had remembered, the molten liquid bubbling and writhing against the transparent walls took her breath away. She was quite pleased to be in the company of two brave warriors, her own confidence began to shy as she imagined the ravenous hunger of such heat; of fire born from lava just like this.
The nearer they moved into the centre, the warmer it became and sweat once more began to flood the minute channels already etched through her sleek fur- it was not uncomfortable; not so overbearing like the hazy desert horizon. When Fina awoke, Silas’s beady black eyes dived towards her, narrowing as seemed appropriate for their sketchy relationship. With a gently clacking beak he endeavoured to ease her very obvious aversion to the cave- it was not so bad he thought.
In the same seconds, Midas had looked towards Africa and was asking her if the cavern was known to her- indeed it was familiar, (the spears descending from the roof were much the same) but she had not travelled through this one in particular. It was far more magnificent than those illuminated so subtly by the glow-worms in her memory. “Not this one.” she answered simply, eyes still flailing, desperate to soak in all that was offered like at any moment she would wake and the cave would be gone. “Will we explore further?” Africa knew that a room as large as this might hide any number of adjoining tunnels stretching far into the centre of the earth. Excitement began to spread through her core and she fidgeted, smiling quietly as she tried to settle herself.
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