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The stranger’s uniquely shaded eyes combed the branches barring the view towards Africa again and again, and the parrot stared intently down with one shining gold eye, set into an offset white mask. Feathers prickled against the whirling breeze, its chilling breath rippling those mottled-grey’s which thatched together to form the protective surface layer; warm through winter, cool through summer. Perhaps the wandering clouds above, far behind as her backdrop offered some ability to blend, but that was not her intention- not primarily; it was more a bonus while she played.

There was a low rumble from the throat of the zephyr in the neighbouring tree as he watched the proceedings with a roll of his own lilac gaze, snatching blurred snippets here and there through the mare’s mind as she toyed with the creature below. Still he wished not to expose himself any more than truly necessary to the bitter breath of the cold season.

She turned, swiftly to leave; startled perhaps (Africa peered hard between the spindly branches which had moments before been a blessing to see), and a wave of disappointment swept through her small stocky frame; but flee the pale creature did not. With intrigue far beyond her natural, Pegasus’ sensibility, the parrot leaned closer, right as the other’s hind hoof accelerated into the mahogany barrel of her dormant perch. The tree trembled violently, the impact ricocheting along each gnarled branch until that beneath her shook too. Already off centre, the bird pitched forward, scrawny grey talons slipping quickly beneath the unexpected shift of her small weight. With feathers spraying hither and thither, startled from wings flung apart, Africa tumbled down inelegantly- screeching her dismay with each branch collected on the way.

Silas swooped the second his beloved was shaken from her post- large, starry wings flapping hurriedly about her descending body (though little could he do to help). He landed in the lowest bough above where Africa had come to rest in the slurry, and stared his concern upon her.

Dishevelled and quite sodden from the helpless struggle for reorientation, Africa in turn found her feet and felt immediately the wickedness of the snow bite her scaly skin. With no consideration required, her eyes pinched tightly closed, and she focused herself to transform there and then. Bones began at once to shift within her body; to twist and contort painfully so that she was completely vulnerable, engulfed in the pain of the task- but watched and guarded all the while by her valiant companion who dared not spare a second to remove his eyes from the unfamiliar horse. Should the creature have in any fashion crossed the invisible barrier marking the dappled shape-shifter’s space, he was prepared, wings ajar, to slow the world around her (or speed around the stranger) so that she would be again a horse in time to react.

Nearly twenty seconds later, Africa was teetering awkwardly across shivering legs- though slowly she began to still and her heart rate to slow. Still grappling for direction, she peered with lightly gilt eyes to smile at her four legged company. "I had that coming..." An apologetic laugh brushed by her lips, as she licked them- finding her mouth awfully dry since the form she had come from make not saliva. "I’m Africa, sorry if I startled you."

Africa