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She was well accustomed to the bitterness of the sour hearted and the sting of unfriendly reception. Naturally the scorn which so briefly reeled beneath the mismatched glare of the obsidian stranger hurt; Africa was a creature wrought only by the hand of gentleness and compassion, and each conflict she came across was as startling as the first bite of Frostfall’s snow. Drawing quickly from the grim hand of her experience, the discouragement was stripped clean from the humble pallid expression, so that it could easily have been mistaken simply for the restless shadows of the breeze-brushed redwoods as they swayed above. The other’s disconcerting demeanour however, was promptly replaced by some sentiment a little softer- still not altogether affable, she thought musingly in silence, but not hostile.

It did not readily occur to Africa that the half-horn resting above the left brow of the other mare was anything remarkable or unnatural, and so appropriately her curious eyes sought not to focus there. Likewise she was so well adapted to life without a functioning set of wings, that she never imagined the disability would attract the black’s interest. Instead they found themselves rather transfixed, awkwardly given the lack of pleasantry offered therein, by those blue and brown staring back. Their moment of solitude was lost however when another of the horned variety appeared and approached at liberty. Of course Africa had suffered at the hoof of the wicked souls of the Basin a long time ago, and the lingering memory of that trauma- no matter how removed she had grown, nor faded the pain, caused her to recoil a little inside.

A blatant confidence radiated with each nearing step the second black made; it was discomforting for Africa but she held herself well enough before them both, propped eagerly against the reminding weight of the golden dragons dancing across her tender brow. They should not have been able to perceive the subliminal nervousness tickling her mind. The one-winged mare certainly lacked the poise and strength of the Throat’s leaders before her, but she was fashioned with unyielding steadfastness that many around her lacked; she possessed a quiet mildness that had apparently appealed enough to the God of the Sun for him to sit her properly at the head of his followers- of his kingdom. Maybe it was that she balanced the stanch fearlessness and grandiose power of her clan, the reputation once belted around them. Whatever the lord of light and fire’s reasoning, she worked now tirelessly to please him.

The newcomer spoke and Africa’s long charcoal ears tipped politely towards her, pretty face following quickly after. The dapple grey was quite used to the wrath of Tallsun, of burning days and nights that seemed relentlessly to harbour the same swollen heat. She had travelled from the dry southern desert, and though sweat leaked constantly across her bland coat, she was more than comfortable. The cold was less forgiving for one whose hide was perpetually thinned to suit her home. The one-winged nodded agreeably never the less, and smiled quietly (not allowing her apprehension to show) as Sialia then introduced herself as a Basin Unicorn. Passing a fleeting glance by the first mare, the dual-horned stranger, Africa wondered if she should linger. A call was sent in those moments to the zephyr that had parted her side an hour ago to scout, though all thought was suddenly broken by the smooth note of the original black’s voice...

It was a fair remark the grey resolved, watching carefully beneath fluttering black lashes as the other turned to grant herself a greater area of space between them. "Indeed..." she mumbled in return, all too aware of the impact of those darkest magic’s around- she was reluctant to reveal her allegiance for that reason; for the reality of the past loathing between Sialia’s herd and her own. Her ‘sister’s’ life had been claimed cruelly by such power, by the heartless monsters among the northern clan. As it were, Africa felt at a loss, unsure what next she should say given the rather guarded and potentially fraught nature of the conversation. A light, cool shrug rolled through her shoulders. "You are wise to take that stance." She added then before allowing her mouth to resume its pleasant, innate smile. "Though I assure you no such wickedness darkens my heart, or those I live beside."

Africa