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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