The journey into the south was not without its difficulties. While they walked, it was only too apparent that the grulla stallion was uncomfortable and agitated. His gait was lopsided; Africa could see that through the corner of her pale eye as he trailed her, and it did not offer much comfort for her swollen concern. Visually, Voodoo did not appear all that different to how she remembered him from the summer last past- there were scars strewn across the silvery sheen of his hide; worn stains marring the black stockings pulled up about his lean legs. The scent which clouded around him was not so much of the damp, northern mildew she detested so gravely- it was a weather-beaten stale, like the stench of someone who had not the care to groom themselves. Brambles and burs caused great tangles throughout his swarthy black hair, knotting fierce clumps together so that he looked rather slovenly. She snorted briskly and smiled inwardly, reassuring herself that a thorough bath would remedy the aesthetical flaws which had tarnished his otherwise, still quite appealing, physique.

Along the way; the long way, Africa rehearsed in the whirlwind of her mind how she would approach the Gallant and the recently appointed Gaucho- because both were no idle ornament in the again burgeoning desert territory. She was uncertain whether they had seen Voodoo before, whether memories about his previous resting place would stir sourness through the meeting to come; and it made her nervous.
They passed from the swishing dry grass of the vast meadowland onto the much harder packed read soil around the heart, and the rise in temperature was sickening- it sapped the moisture from her mouth and each pinched breath she drew from the fire-land was laced with the dust stirred by their hooves. Although the heart was indeed a beautiful region, it was harsh and unforgiving- more so even than the desert she called home. The gems beneath her weary tread were smothered by the sudden wall of head high grass, and Africa snorted roughly as the disturbed wispy wheat-like seeds joined the swarm of flies to bother about her bouncing nostrils. The area was so dry and the young grey’s skin itched terribly.

She was more than pleased when they parted from Helovia’s heart; hooves at last sinking into the familiar slip of burnt, red-gold desert sand. The journey was nearly at an end and she turned for the first time to check on Voodoo. Some lengths had spread between them- whether because of the wretched heat blistering around them, or because her steady pace was too much in his drawn condition. A tenderly affectionate smile lifted the stress from her pale grey mask as she waited for him to close the gap. He asked her whether they were close; told her that the warmth was unpleasant- in his not so eloquent fashion. She laughed very lightly, a forced sound that was meant sincerely but was so hampered by the weight of all that was to unfold. Very soon. “I will take you to the beach. I think you might prefer it to the lake.” She mumbled softly, turning again towards the ominous black wall which was still only half made across the border of her home.

Skirting the oasis, the core lifeblood of the herd, Africa guided her friend down as far south as the frothy white shoreline would permit. There she turned to Voodoo and pressed her nose close to him, drawing as deeply as she dared the gruff, unclean scent of him. “Soak yourself for a while. The salt will do your body good, and the cool waves will refresh you.” The young horse dipped her lips towards the lapping water as it slipped up the beach, only to vanish into the sand by her hooves. “I am going to find someone to bless your stay.” Naturally, she wanted her adolescent crush to stay forever, but it was not her choice at this point.

There she left him with Silas, who fluttered cautiously over the turning waves beyond the sand- ever watchful. Africa broke into a beat canter in the direction of the lake, hoping for the sake of her sanity that Midas or Gaucho were around.


@[Midas] or @[Gaucho] would you mind jumping into this if you have a chance? If not, that's fine too, just let me know and I will work it out in a later thread ^_^