Even after Parelia had moved on with her hatchling companion- appropriately feathered and rather dear to behold, Africa lingered; savouring the timeless beauty and marvelling at the mystery of the ancient Rotunda. Many times had she passed through the region with idle ambition, a restless mind searching for more and writhing for challenge, but never during those ventures had she stumbled upon this place. Her delicate, cream-tinged gaze wandered thoughtfully between the columns surrounding, revelling always in the dancing shafts of coloured light which sank down like a blanket across her bleak, puddle-grey body. Outside grew a lush grove of trees quite apart from those which forged the deep emerald forests of Helovia, the gentle gurgle of a narrow watercourse created a rather peaceful, mesmerizing ambience, and the mild warble of a thrush broke infrequently into a playful harmony that was equally as soothing.

Although pressed squarely upon her conscience was the weight of homeland duty, the dappled creature could not bring herself to part with the quietude; the stillness and the solitude- certainly when she returned to the herd she had been elevated to co-lead in place of the brawny bay, Gaucho, this gift would feel like a distant dream. A retiring sigh swept from her lungs, and she swivelled the bulk of her elegant frame to peer in the other direction. Africa found Silas first, roosting mid-way up a young fir tree with his head nestled contentedly upon the plumy-pillow of his own collar, and she smiled affectionately; glad that he should feel so comfortable to rest his guard. The little area definitely seemed like a Sanctuary in itself- far lovelier in the eyes of a Pegasus and her avian, than the stone confines of the underground version they had barely days before slithered out from.

Perhaps the soiled slurry of snow had masked the arrival of the stranger; the Unicorn. Africa had failed to notice anybody wandering with the veil of thick tangled vines obscuring much of the view surrounding the little marble-like building, and while Silas slept on, there had been no warning noticed. The creature who stepped forward forced the feeble-hearted mare to recoil a little; she was ever more wary having shared now the story of her grim loss, with Midas. Suddenly those scars upon her mind felt raw, stinging, and although she failed to recognise her foe immediately she remained wary. Pastel-gold eyes traced the length of her horn, right to the spindly point and narrowed instinctively there though no trace of aggression had been leaked.

"Hello." The one-winged grey offered for the sake of common courtesy and politeness- a skill which was as much a part of her as the cushy nature of her heart. For the moment her bonded did not stir; her mind did not flounder for his protection. There was a strange familiarity about the spotted bay, but Africa just could not place where they had crossed paths before- maybe it was somewhere down beneath the earth, where the whole Helovian population had been forced to bed together.