She listened quietly when the Sultana began to speak and take up the conversation when her own tongue drew blank. Her young, overloaded mind flailed helplessly and she felt the sudden weight of Midas’s revelation press upon her inexperienced shoulders. Thoughtfulness began to intertwine through her pale, compassionate expression though, filling out the troubled hollows lining her face, and the Starry-Eyed found herself nodding along in sync to her better composed (perhaps more considerate also) white sister’s words; her understanding. It was true, there was not a trace of resentment tarnishing Africa’s thoughts or posture either, and she was glad the dove had assured their former leader of that. The dappled mare’s rusty-red lips had curled into a smile by the time Sohalia had finished and she added with a subtle coyness, “your name is fond to us, it always will be.” There was little else she could say.

She figured quickly and easily that an alliance would benefit their small, intimate family. The one-winged mare remembered well the invasions in times past (felt the burden of the Basin’s foul existence), and was swamped suddenly by a giddying desperation to sign their loyalty over. Midas was a brother, a friend; he was their family, she still firmly and perhaps foolishly believed. Wasn’t it only natural that such friendship should be nurtured still? The Asylum’s existence in all of this seemed barely a flicker of thought to begin with, but such a rash decision was not hers alone to make. Africa turned her elegantly chiselled skull towards her sister promptly, thankful, when the other Pegasus mare suggested they resign to the shade and comfort of the oasis for a small while. It was a superb idea, and she wished even that she had been so creative, mindful.

“Not much of it has changed.” Africa half joked after Midas had next spoken, quickly taking advantage of the almost lighter mood between the three of them. Although the sand and rolling dunes skirting the Throat had shrunk significantly; and the wall Sohalia had spent so much time crafting had been basically devoured by the hungry jaws of their ocean neighbour, the small slice of paradise in which the herd was allowed to thrive flowered now as normal, beneath the blistering hand of their patron God. She turned afterwards, feeling a little silly, silently cursing her lack of prudence; and began to walk by the side of her sister in the direction of the oasis.

It wasn’t a long trek by any means, but the afternoon was scorching and the sand beneath seemed to radiate the heat of the sun terribly. Quickly, a heavy sweat began to lather across Africa’s flanks and dampen the rest of her blotchy grey body. Perhaps (she thought belatedly), flying the distance might have been kinder. Nevertheless, forward thinking was a work in progress still, and as her lagging hooves drew alongside the first feeble sprouts of spinifex, her face wandered back to find the golden-eyed stallion; their friend. “We won’t be long.” She assured him with a warm smile, and slipped sideways with scuffing steps so that he might pass between she and Sohalia into his ho... the shade.

The two Sultana’s spoke briefly but conscientiously, and Africa was enthused that it seemed again, they thought similarly about the prospect of allying with the Hidden Falls clan; with Midas.... Valid concerns were raised about their lack of knowledge about the Asylum, and though the Starry-Eyed could offer no consolation regarding them (she couldn’t think of any occasion actually when she’d encountered their members- that was a good thing, right?), it was determined collectively that Dragon’s Throat would accept the Czar’s proposal. They discussed afterwards another couple of thoughts, and then the one-winged grey swivelled around to venture after their guest. He was easy enough to track, his clean scent was familiar, invigorating, and one which she had yearned for, for many months.


[ooc: Hope this works for you Soh <3 Will edit out the power playing if required]