Why was it always just natural for young creatures to not only be curious but to strive to achieve so much more then they could manage. Meanwhile anyone who was caring for or looking after them was left with a near heart attack upon observation of said impossible task. Merou was no worse for wear after his little tumble making him begin to think that spirits did not sustain injuries like those of the living. Neither friend seemed to know the true nature of spirits but were together slowly discovering what they were capable of and not capable of but there was still a huge grey area of unexplored possibilities. So far it appeared that it was optional whether or not he could pass through objects or whether he was much like a real cub with mass and weight. It was rather bizarre to watch him crash into objects one minute but then somehow manage to barrel through them as if they were not even there.

Gazing down to Merou he couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips at the contentment of his friend. Merou, who's head was half tilted to the side gazed up at Silas with such fascination it reminded him of a feline awaiting the arrival of its soon to be lunch. The only difference was that he doubted Merou wanted to eat the poor Zepyhr only play around with him. Africa's response was much to his relief a satisfying outcome to a potential disaster had she decided his intentions were anything but what they were.

"The pleasure is mine" He replied smoothly, nodding his own cranium slightly to her own recognition of them. As the conversation turned back to Merou's well being his heart warmed at the mare's concern for the very creature that had charged at her only minutes before. "It appears he is quite alright despite his tumble. It still doesn't cease to amaze me what he is capable of doing being a spirit and all." He felt the need to give a little insight into his dear friend maybe more as a reassurance to himself that nothing had happened to Merou. " It doesn't stop my own concern for his safety of course."

Another noise from behind sparked his immediate attention as he pivoted to see another mare approaching calmly. Her friendly greeting softened his alarm as he judged her to not be meaning the herd or themselves any harm. "Greetings Abishia, My name is Ciceron and this is Merou, Africa and Silas." He introduced gently motioning to each in turn. No sooner were the words out of his mouth did a low threatening growl erupt from the fuzzball at his feet startling him. It was a sound he had never heard from his usually gentle friend which set his alert to high in an instance. Something dark plummeted from the sky to land among the small group nearest to Africa.

Shying blindly to the side he whipped his head around to see the horrific creature make a lunge towards her before turning back to lunge at himself. "RUN HOME!!" It is all I hear other than the creatures laughter before the small but determined shimmer leaps poised at the mutation with fur standing on end, teeth bared to strike into flesh and claws ready to rip away pieces. Half rearing to avoid the false lunge of whatever this thing was he turned leaping towards Abishia and Africa trying to drive them away from the danger. His heart was pounding in his chest as adrenaline surged through his veins, he had heard the order Merou had given but hated the idea of leaving him to the wills of this once upon a time, normal equine. "GO! I will follow behind!"

Despite what his heart was telling him to do he knew he had to try and get the other two to safety. Where was safe though? Merou had mentioned home, would it be safe there or would it just lead the creature to the rest of the herd? What to do, what to do. "Abishia, Silas, Africa we need to go now! The Foothills are not far, get beyond the borders I will lead you there!" His words came quickly with the only instruction he could manage in the moment. He did not want to run from the battle but Merou had made it clear it was not a battle he could win. This time he would heed to the filth that attacked and run, he could only hope Merou knew what he was doing.

Hooves digging deep into the grass he pushed away from the scene towards the safety (or so he hopes) of the Foothills. He would take the consequences of bringing others into the land without permission but what other choice did they have? He needed to warn the others. With a desperate glance back to wherever Merou was he turned for home, hopefully with the others following. In the commotion he knew not of what was happening, or if injuries had been dealt so he clung to the flicker of hope that Merou was as resilient as it believed.



Merou Speaks...
Ciceron Speaks...

As relief spread throughout the young Oracle, the approach of another caught her attention also; the flicker of movement just beyond the grasp of pale, creamy eyes. Behind Ciceron’s swivelling dappled frame, another horse appeared, jogging briskly to meet them- a filly, painted both coffee-brown and white. She called her name in greeting, and the courtesy was received well by the one-winged creature who shuffled closer to welcome her into the midst of the conversation. The stallion too seemed untroubled and spoke first, in response, introducing each party present respectively. At the mention of her name, Africa smiled broadly and nodded- then again, with a small backward gesture, when Silas’s was told.

There was no time even for the meeting to continue; Merou growled fiercely, interrupting the nice exchange and alarmed ears guided the path of her eyes to that which had caused such a ferocious sound to escape. All in the same moment, Silas too was crying out angrily, his shrill warning peeling through the atmosphere; shattering the tranquillity which had enveloped the field all around.

“Danger!” Their bond shrieked, startling flashes of fury warping the calm hue of their minds. Africa’s sinewy legs began to twist and writhe as she danced in place, unsure what exactly what event was unfolding- certainly she had not seen the likes of one so ill before now, and when finally the gruesome creature clothed in all manner of rotting filth scrambled forward, Africa was already turning from its approach, preparing herself to flee. Suddenly though, the beast called her name and she was dumbstruck- paralysed by confusion as frantic eyes tried to determine what had plummeted from the heavens.

The wraith lunged forward and it was all the Oracle could do to try and scramble from the gnash of its foul teeth; awful breath which spilt before her in a wave of nauseating gas. It then switched with limberness she could not have believed to be mortal, and made for Ciceron who in turn found himself guarded by the bear cub. Silas screamed, lost to his wild rage and began to flap his wings like once he had done in the Threshold to aid the actions of his endangered beloved. The time began to flicker slowly, but Africa cried out for him to stop- she feared for those friends who too would be slowed, hindered by the zephyrs art; and he ceased instantly, unsure what next he should do.

As the Unicorn stallion ordered their retreat, the one-winged mare was already breaking forward into a breathless sprint, driving as quickly as she could; though she cared not to hide herself in the stallion’s unfamiliar home (despite his unmistakable care)- instead she galloped south, angling for home. Perhaps then, when they were clear of that madness, Silas could try again to use his magic and whisk them faster through time.