A group strolling through the desert was a sight to behold- both as unusual as it seemed hard to avoid.

Of late, the young Oracle had found little sleep while the bulk of her swelling herd took the rest they ought. Late at night, she found solace from the self-inflicted loneliness stewing through her core, by the crackling glow of the fire she had been appointed to tend. It had become something of a friend that she often confided in; revealing to the dancing, greedy flames (perhaps her Lord, the Sun God himself) the darkest of her secrets and those thoughts which troubled her most. It felt good to clear her mind, but all the while her heart still rotted with the wrongdoings she had done to this family.

With Silas’ slight weight nestled against the slope of her back, Africa set off towards the vague thrum of surging ocean- a short journey that she had made now each night that the moon had glowed so fiercely. The nights had cooled considerably and moisture clung to the breeze which lifted from the sea beyond; it was a relaxing time, when obscurity and isolation granted her some perverted sense of peace. Only once thus far had another been roaming the beach, and the chance meeting had stirred such strange curiosities in her mind- perhaps not so much the flail or her weakened heart, which had been both unsettling and intriguing.

It was the upset croak of her bonded’s sharp voice which pulled Africa from the fog of her ever-churning thoughts, and her eyes lifted quickly to scan the near area for the movement he had noticed. Indeed company loomed not far ahead; a group of horses which from the small distance and despite the moon’s steady light, she could not quite confirm to be members of the Throat. With a fluttering heart, full of sudden dread, the Oracle probed the thoughts of her Zephyr companion- his keen eyes were so valuable through these hours when her own sight fell short. “Friends...” He offered, the beat of his own pulse unruffled by the company which neared. His neck was craning so that his beady black eyes could scout their midst, and with a softly victorious caw, he continued with some difficulty to try to ease her nerves. “Leader... dove.”

Africa was not certain who her thoughtful bonded referred to as dove, but she realised quickly that Midas was part of the gathering- with little time to spare between the enlightenment and them descending upon her position, the one-winged mare composed herself and dressed faintly her expression with a smile, both curious and surprised. "Sohalia!" She cooed through the soft ripple of wind as the familiar white mare’s face became more apparent- she needed not the art of pretending right then as genuine shock spread her lashes wide apart. "I haven’t seen you for a long time friend. What a pleasure it is." It was true that their paths had not crossed perhaps since the now Forger, had filled her yearning with a multitude of information and understandings.
Africa, though with a sketchy memory anyway since her Basin trauma, was satisfied that they had not recently been in contact. She cast a inquiring eye across the group surrounding- Midas indeed was there, as was Alina the dove, Sikeax and the pale, creamy mare Rasta who had spoken so boldly during the latest meeting. A delicate smile was offered quietly to each before she spoke. "What are you all doing wandering at this late hour?" For the moment the Oracle had forgotten her plague of turmoil, but it haunted the hollows of her still kindly eyes, darkening their perimeter along with that lack of sleep.

Africa