The dove's greeting was well received, and she offered a smile to match her former Sultan's. Astraeus settled on her withers, letting off a small show of sullen sparks: he was a jealous creature by nature, and unused to sharing his bonded's affections with any but a select few. Africa, with whom he had been familiar for most of his young life, had, of course, made the list, but this newcomer of black and white and gold treating his angel with such camaraderie left him in a rather bleak sort of mood. Still, it seemed that he sensed the importance of the meeting, and he did not move save to offer a hostile glare. The dove offered only a silent, Hush, my love; calm yourself. The gentle command was enough, or so it seemed, for the unruly wakiya settled himself into a small, almost fluffy-looking ball, nestled into the lower part of her mane, and waited patiently.

Only the smallest of moments passed as the silent exchange took place, and so the angel was able to respond to Midas without delay. "Quite well, thank you." But the exchange of pleasantries was short-lived. She presumed that Africa had already offered her greeting, for the one-winged mare had remained quiet. "Africa," she greeted her fellow Sultana, adding a grin and a nod, realizing that in her excitement to see the stallion, she had been terribly rude. She cursed herself behind a carefully polite facade, for it was still unknown what the outcome of this meeting would be, and she would not give her discomfort away. She was determined and stubborn, for of the three of them, she felt that she had the most to prove. She would, of course, step down if Midas requested return to the herd - there was simply no question of that - but a small part of her felt a bitter disappointment, for there was so much she had left to do, so much that she wanted to accomplish. And she was in such a wonderful position to do it - if, of course, she remained in her current rank.

She vaguely wondered when she had become so calculating - or had it always been hidden away within?

But her hidden dismay quickly gave way to confusion as the painted steed revealed his purpose, a revelation that left her with brows raised and nothing to say. Africa, too, appeared stupefied - the Starry-Eyed managed to gasp out a quick query, which was more than the ivory dove managed to come up with. The angel felt her stomach knot, for she was too newly come, too inexperienced to be thrust into decisions regarding alliances - particularly when the emissary was her former Sultan. But the choice she was faced with would not wait until she was ready, and so she took a deep breath, swallowed her disquiet, and said slowly. "I'm sure we're interested in what you have to say, of course... but, with all due respect, sir, this is quite... unexpected." She spoke slowly, carefully, as though treading on broken glass; she wished not to offend him, but to understand - for he who should have returned to reclaim his crown was soon to depart again to carry tidings of friendship or enmity to his new clan. What she could not understand was why?

"Go on, brother..." said Africa, but the angel was fumbling, stumbling through the dark, flailing through the deeps, struggling to find her way without drowning in her own ineptitude. The pair of them shared an almost wary glance, a look full of bewilderment and agitation. It did little to calm Sohalia's racing heart. How much of her opinion, of her involvement, was too much? She feared offending the stallion, feared jeopardizing any chance of an alliance before it started, feared over-stepping her bounds and alienating her fellow Sultana (whose opinion of her meant so very much) - but aside from their responsibility to their own herd, aside from her responsibility to offer an unbiased view of any offers from other lands, she could not help but wonder for this steed who had once called himself one of their own, who had done so much for their herd, who had led her and her brethren for so long. "If you would, sir - please tell us of the Hidden Falls."

"talk talk talk"
@[name]

Live... I want to live on fire
Die... I want to burn out brighter
Brighter than the northern lights
Want to live to feel the daylight