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She took comfort in the company of the babbling river. Its song was both tranquil and fresh, and her lips fondled affectionately beneath the rippling surface, drawing delicately the sweet flavour to quench the growing thirst and fill the empty space in her stomach. Africa was travelling south, guided only by the meandering water, enjoying the mild warmth of the day, while Silas wheeled through the vast blue arcing sky ahead, taking pleasure in the lightness of his sensitive bonded’s mood. The mare’s quiet tread was light and playful, skipping every now and again to dance between smiling flower-heads or scatter pebbles swept ashore by the constant sea-bound current. This is bliss! she presumed, declaring it vibrantly into the mind of her distant companion, and he was glad for her (though not quite as confident that all was as clear-cut as she seemed to think).

He’d watched her grow through their many months bonded, watched personalities waltz through her life, both in and then out just as rapidly, and there were only a few who had truly touched her. Silas knew she longed to believe that what she felt for the leather-winged stallion was love, but he could feel the raw reality of the situation. Such emotion and trust, the fulfilment she thought existed was merely an apparition forged by desire and by hope. Hers was a loneliness rooted aside from the companionship he offered; it had been growing for years, still longer than he’d even been alive, and though they lived for one another, he understood the pang in her heart- but for the right suitor. If that reckless tattooed creature was her destiny, much work was still to be done.

A shadow pulled him from thought suddenly, and Silas’s sharp lilac eyes narrowed on the mass of cloud wandering across the burning face of the sun. He blinked bewilderedly, and realised when his gaze fell that way again, that there was also a mass of land travelling through the air, the sky, above Africa’s cherished shrine.

Silas? the trailing mare probed his mind, nervous, aware all of a sudden that confusion had scattered like white fog through his mind. They had not the need to sit constantly in each other’s mind; there was a thoughtful respect shared between them, but such abrupt fluctuations in emotion drew quickly the attention of the other. The Starry-Eyed stood motionless, water lapping playfully about the solid obstruction of her hooves. Silas, tell me what you see...

She closed her pale, panicked eyes hurriedly, opening them again instantly as the Roc’s own gaze. Africa’s lingering body flinched, startled as the island floating above the Veins appeared to her and her concentration swayed uncertainly so that she fell back to the river with a jolt. Instantly her white capped knees broke into a canter, and she searched upwards for the roaming silhouette of the avian; of the island! It had been there the whole time, all the while she’d been trekking south; but now, as she neared its position (the bridge to the God’s temple), it grew into an absolutely enormous presence- suddenly it was unavoidably obvious!

She staggered further into the Veins, gazing up all the time, and even before she’d considered shape-shifting, white fluffy cloud was gathering beneath her step. It was lifting her! And Silas swept down, clinging with a fierce grip to the slippery silk of her worn green cloak. Africa stood splay-legged as she moved towards the island- towards a gushing, white waterfall; flying still as a Pegasus like she’d not been able to do in years. The unlikely boat carried her to where a valley stretched on the upper side beyond the spilling water, and with widening eyes the one-winged found herself staring down upon a little town, roads dividing, tents standing. It was there that she was deposited.

The cloud dissipated quickly...

"Where are we?" the young mare fairly stammered, fidgeting nervously beneath the wary growl of her friend. The area was a hive of activity, but that was little comfort- the caves had much the same atmosphere, all bodies crammed in together. But it was different. There was a peace through the valley, a merriment that Africa had not before felt. She stepped away from the place the cloud had left her, and found after some time wandering, Rei, causing her heart to flutter with wild relief. "Rei!" she called eagerly, covering the distance at a bouncing trot pace. The speckled desert mare was with another, and Africa chivalrously greeted her with a broad, thoughtful smile. "Hey there, I’m Africa," she offered, noting that the pair were breathing quite hard.


[Ooc: I hope this is alright! Africa couldn’t race with them D:]

Africa

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The spotted mare was indeed panting heavily, but there was no hesitation as she returned Africa’s call with a prompt, friendly greeting. The one-winged grey nodded, completely agreeing, and likening this high altitude paradise (the stew of bodies gathering together anyway), to the underground Sanctuary where Helovia’s population had last congregated. This bright, cheery place was far lovelier, and she had not the same wariness flanking her choppy stride.

"I’ve no idea!" her gentle voice exclaimed, pastel eyes turning on cue to further assess the wonder surrounding. "It's amazing, and so strange..." The smile pulling tight her dark, velvet grey lips only broadened as her wandering attention found the chestnut and ivory painted mare again. She responded with her own introduction, and Africa was touched by the apparent mildness of her nature. So many roaming the country these days were twisted, arrogant and difficult to get along with- the Starry-Eyed seemed to be a magnet for that sort. "You too," she beamed.

Rei’s personality was effervescent and entirely endearing; contagiously so, and as she shared with them her up-beat opinion of the Sky Island, Africa could not help but be swept up by the mood. She was an impressionable soul, keen to find the best in the world, and with company like that which she had found now, such a frightfully overwhelming concept became much simpler; almost near enough for her to grasp.

Petals borne upon the mild breeze danced down towards them, released by the trees who had new buds to nurture in their place. Thoughtful eyes watched them come curiously, her intelligent mind always triggered by the marvels of the natural world. The speckled mare shook one away which had settled on the bridge of her nose, and laughed. The dappled chuckled quietly; disappointed that she’d not been chosen to carry one as well. Moved by her new friends, and taken aback by the land that had brought them together, Africa’s lips wandered down to delicately pluck from the fresh grass three of the blossoms that had not broken apart. They will be perfect.. she thought, and Silas purred gently at the motivation turning through her mind. Carefully she opened the small satchel by her elbow (it had been returned by Sikeax after bearing gifts for World’s Edge), and dropped the flowers inside.

All the while her desert sister had been chatting merrily, and as the Starry-Eyed’s focus returned, Nasreen began to speak; she wanted to explore as well. The same enthusiasm swelled through Africa’s demure core, and she agreed heartily, "Alright! Let’s go." Since being installed as the Dragon’s Throat Sultana, she’d developed a small sense of leadership- an even smaller amount of confidence, but she was glad to be able to just tag behind for once. Relax, leave behind the troubles of her reign.

Africa

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Sharp, protective violet eyes scanned carefully the field as Africa hastened behind the excited tread of her desert sister. He was none too amused by the sudden occurrence of land hovering; they’d been tested before by the darkness, being driven to shelter far beneath the earth’s flaking, hot surface. The spotted mare’s path was sporadic, completely random, and though he was a creature of strategy and purpose, Silas endured with rare, unwavering tolerance the recklessness of this newest adventure.

The one-winged mare followed quietly, enjoying Rei’s obliging nature, and the way her chirpy voice seemed to fill any potential for awkward silences. Her unmindfully gregarious personality was one to be cherished, and it drew across pale grey features a thoughtful contentedness that felt all too rare these days. She puddled along smiling, glancing down towards fresh, vivid blooms as they caught Rei’s attention; marvellously smooth stones that caused her eager stride to hesitate, Africa soaked up the ambience, the beauty, the wonder.

She couldn’t relate directly as both Nasreen and Rei discussed a matter close to their hearts. As the topic lingered there (perhaps only for seconds), Africa felt the pang of grief for them, emotion spurred by loss and heartache, both of which followed her daily. It had been many years since the black and white Unicorn had torn away her wing; stolen from her a birthright. She’d grown well accustomed to it though, and the ache of futility had dulled considerably. The Starry-Eyed wondered privately, casting a warm glance between her new friends, if there was any comparison.

Silas croaked tenderly where he rode, silky soft fibres sliding constantly as her travelling body rocked. Occasionally his balance would fail, but star-glitter wings were spread apart skilfully and he never fell completely.

The playful banter went on for a little while longer, vast proclamations and sweet girlish giggling spurred ease through the one-winged Pegasus’ core that had been absent for a long time. She began to hum quietly, thinking, forming together a song which might suit the legend to follow this day- softly she began...

“Hail, the conquering heroes,
They’ve travelled near and far.
Over land and sea, by air,
When the sun is high, or dark.

There’s no adventure shied from,
No landscape too obscene.
Their voices sing in chorus for,
All the marvellous things they’ve seen!

Together and forever,
They will hold each other close.
Good friends are few and far between,
With you, life never slows...”

A coy, chortle followed, but she smiled genuinely as her eyes brushed by each other mare. Within her, an overwhelming feeling of belonging was growing- different to the deep tenderness she felt for Midas, and for Sohalia. She was drawn to Rei and to Nasreen in such a way she could not describe. Africa was a deeply sensitive soul, intelligent and emotional, and she experienced nothing by half.

The sound her sister’s voice pulled her from stewing thought.

"Sohalia?" She paused her step for only the briefest of moments, and shook her soft expression ruefully. "I’m sorry, no I haven’t. She has been so busy of late..." Africa wanted to tell Rei about the school, where her craft might fit into the grand plan that the white dove was still nurturing, but it was not yet the right time. "It is still at the front of my mind though, I promise." Her nose danced forward to try to bump the leopard-like hide of the other. "Maybe to sharpen your skills, why not begin a library of sorts?" The thought was brilliant, and her voice lifted as the idea evolved still further in her mind. "You could chronicle our native wildlife, or map our home?"

Africa had not the slightest clue how Rei might achieve such a thing, in all honesty, but she figured it might bring some relevance to the mare’s time. Certainly she had felt the gravity of pointlessness before. Then her face stiffened and she added with a grim soberness, "You should definitely document our song!"

The desert mare went on to question her feelings about leadership, to which the Starry-Eyed laughed. "Fulfilling... perhaps, at the moment though days are long. Our reward is the loyalty of those we work for- the company of our friends and family." In all honesty, she thought herself no better than any who shared home with her. There was nothing remotely special about her. The simple fact was that the God of the Sun had few long-standing followers to pick from, when Midas and Gaucho went missing (or so she believed), Africa had been one of the few who’d remained beyond the darkness.

They were trekking downhill later, the field spread around them lush and vast, when all of a sudden a bush nearby began to quiver. Silas cawed cautiously, skipping nearer to the flames curling through his bonded’s long mane, and he eyed the shrub warily before a winged, pink pig emerged- too small to be adult (although feathered swine was something he’d not before seen at all).

Nasreen had already danced a few steps in reverse and Africa thought instinctively to follow. But as the little creature stumbled forward and collapsed, the one-winged mare’s heart lurched. "I... I’m not sure?" she answered, moving against the will of her more responsible half (wings flared objectionably, hooked beak grinding in protest), to nudge her limp form.

Africa

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It was warm in late Tallsun, and to Africa, Sky Island seemed more a paradise than even the cool Oasis in spring. She could not imagine the young creature succumbing to the wrath of cold nights, nor was she sure as pale sandy eyes roamed its helpless form nestled against the embrace of the appaloosa mare, that it would starve any time soon. It seemed well enough, though her experience with pigs and babes alike was slim. Charcoal ears wavered across the flaming poll, utterly uncertain what exactly their next step needed to be. Rei confirmed her suspicion quickly, and the dappled one nodded briskly – there was no doubting its immaturity. "She doesn’t look very frightened..." she mentioned, hoping to quell the other mare’s worry, because the tiny thing had barely stirred.

As the spotty desert mare began to tidy mud cake feathers, the creature began to squeal softly- the strangest noise Africa had ever heard. She took a tentative step away, narrowing one eye as her startled expression cocked to the side. It seemed Nasreen was no more comfortable. She too had retreated slightly, and the dappled mare passed a quiet glance by the other, pretty painted mare. Rei spoke on all the while, a cup spilling with ideas, and when she mentioned Silas the one-winged squirmed a little. "Ah..." she hesitated, for a moment, and the Zephyr picked up promptly the reason for his bonded’s bristling.

"I don’t think he speaks... piglet!" laughter bubbled in her throat at the suggestion, but it was not derisive and she leaned as near as she dared to brush affectionately her sister’s black ear. "Silly Rei..." she giggled, turning with a grin towards Nasreen whose mumbling had not passed by altogether unnoticed.

Rei craned forward to reach a stick, and Africa watched with still a childish smile spilt through her expression- but suddenly the creature stirred. As their painted friend whispered, the grey took another step away.

The shrill noise unleashed when it found not its mother beside it was awful! The Starry-Eyed leapt away with ears buried back beneath fire, her only wing flared in defence, and even as Nasreen tried in vain to soothe it, she dared not return. "What’s wrong with it?!" she cried almost desperately, frantic eyes darting around them to see whose attention they had attracted; the shrieking, she thought, could bring the sky down upon them... and they were only trying to help.

Silas who had been thrown from his rest, eyes the piglet with sharp, unimpressed eyes. He thought immediately that the creature would make a fine gift for his cousin (his interest), Fina. Ordinarily he was repulsed by the thought of consuming another’s body, but for the sake of their budding friendship, the idea was more attractive. The thought however, was fleeting, as Africa scolded him silently. Though fearful and quite put off by its voice, the one-winged would never allow him to sacrifice something so utterly helpless. Go catch a lizard! she snapped irritably, and the bird swooped from their company.

Africa