“Gaucho, a Sultan of Dragon’s Throat heads a group of horses; Pegasus of course, but Unicorn and Equine also, to try to rise against the sickness taking over Helovia.” Africa found herself eyeing the colt narrowly, carefully. She felt honestly as though she were speaking with the boy’s mother; another of their herd, really any adult at all instead of one so immature. It was a curious feeling, and not one that made her particularly comfortable. “That is the resistance. They are called W.A.R- but I am not really sure what that stands for.” Africa had promised Silas that they would offer themselves to the cause against; the Zephyr was a keen protector, a stalwart sentinel- quite contrary to everything the mare stood for. Already they had twice made a trip to the Threshold in the name of W.A.R to rescue and return with those wandering souls who entered Helovia oblivious to the danger lurking. She would have preferred nowadays days to hang with those cowards unwilling to risk their own lives; their safety- but not Silas.

The Oracle suddenly felt the weight of responsibility, something which was welcome enough; but she was uncomfortable knowing she held not all the answers he wished for. Her weight shifted, and pale eyes wandered for a moment’s respite towards the gaping entrance to the Wall; beyond a stew of bodies gathering perhaps to ward off another wraith whose path had strayed to close. Indeed her friend was right that danger would lick their heels greedily when finally they emerged above ground.

She sighed distantly.

“Any who offer you their protection is the right Spear for the job.” She answered without looking back to him and her voice was vague; unable to escape the bind of musings and worries as they clouded the clarity of her thoughts. “Whoever you can find…” She shrugged conclusively, blinking, turning a kindly smile at last towards him.

His expression had relaxed a little and dark blue eyes were again bright- hopeful she assumed. The lines of trepidation had eased somewhat from Africa’s taut physique also, the colt’s endearing company quite apart from any of the ridiculousness shared by an adult world. Should she have held any trace of maternal instinct, the humble grey might even have taken the child beneath her own wing, nurtured him; raised him. She knew nothing of motherhood though, especially those intricate details which would secure him a quality meal, rich and creamy- such ideas were yet even to enter her head. Kari spoke again soon enough, engaging her awareness immediately with a term quite foreign- certainly she had no siblings alive to act as Aunt for. “An Oracle?”

Lips that had shed their nervous quiver lowered nearer to the elevation of his small face. She did not touch him though, despite his age; the innocence that should still naturally encase him. So many who she had offered such selfless warmth and compassion towards had been less than benevolent in return- they had been swayed by emotion, that which she had never meant to provoke. “I act on behalf of the God of the Sun, the almighty, and relay insight given by him to our herd.” Fondness glazed her eyes as she spoke of her Lord, her father- though impress him apparently she could not. “I represent our herd also, though he is all seeing, and all knowing. He is the patron of our home you know Kari.” Her heart sank unexpectedly for the gravity of their predicament. “I was praying just before, though neither sign nor signal has been given by him for a very long time.”

As his own pointed maw reached to touch the wall, Africa extended her own velvet, grey muzzle to press upon it. She could only hope the God’s had not forsaken them; grown tired of mortal unrest and disobedience.

Africa