The question was... Why?

Ghost stood on a floating island with a confused kind of look on her face. It was a ridiculous place where waterfalls flew off the sides and banners danced in the wind signifying the herd they represented. The spy stood in the camp of the Hidden Falls after noticing the growing shadow over her herd land, the sprite had followed it upwards by wing until she had discovered the strange looking island that did as it pleased regardless to the rest of the world below. Around her now were roads leading into the camp, an ostentatious ground that looked to form an arena for battle and at the heart of it all was a green tent like they were stuck in some kind of carnival. Yet, why indeed, where they here? The Gods appeared to have plans and Ghost impatiently waited for them to begin their mischief for this place was far to fancy and deliberate for a whim.

Dark hooves took her away from the flamboyant scenery of the world before her and she tracked back towards the sand filled arena, looking at its undisturbed state and silently wishing someone would come and... Disturb it. Spars here would be in front of a crowd of horses packed into the same area, the winner would receive total glory and the loser would face the depths of humiliation. A better and more exciting way to fight was what the sprite thought.

A small sigh passed through the lips of the banshee and she looked to the clouds surrounding the floating pompous mound of dirt, grass and water. It oozed a sense of peace, of lethargic tranquility that made the small sigh slightly more prolonged. The world was better when it was in strife, it's secrets easily became free to the beady eyes of this undercover agent. Yet, with the herds all together being so close, Ghost began to see a bit of merit in this kind of peace. Rubbing shoulders with old enemies was bound to enflame old wounds. This kind of setting would have made it easy for her mother to drive a well timed horn through the heart of her brother, alas, her mother had been missing for some time now and Ghost simply presumed her dead. Or perhaps that was more wishful thinking.

Ghost listened to the delicate fall of glass hooves and the quiet, yet audible nicker that reached her ears causing them to swivel in the direction of the enchanter of souls. Seele. It was good to know that one of the leaders of their growing herd of harlequins had made it to the even more ridiculous refuge of a floating home that probably fit their mold more. Yet, Ghost had to wonder... How? She had no wings after all, though certainly there must be a way as she would not be here otherwise. The banshee pondered this as she spoke of important matters, but asked after her wellbeing first to which the spy snorted and looked at her then looked around. "Confused for the most part. Though I have been well, perhaps too well I was becoming rather bored" she admitted freely with a small smile curling onto her dark lips. She was waiting patiently for the world of espionage to take her up and cradle her again.

"I trust you have kept your health?" She enquired, Ghost had seen Seele in a beaten up state one or two times after all.

She turned back to the dusty arena then and waited for the Czarina to talk her part as the clouds rolled on around them. It seemed odd to hold such casual conversation considering their surroundings, she wondered how many had made it up here already. Were there whole herds up here? There was purpose to this island, Ghost was almost sure of it, otherwise it would have been a wasted energy by the Gods to create such a place. She had many questions that all came down to simply what were they up to?

Clouds lifting? Her neutral gaze shifted briefly into a baffled expression as she tried to imagine the scene in her head and at all angles it seemed ridiculous. Yet, those were the words of her Czarina and Seele wasn't normally one to exaggerate greatly from what she knew of her so the banshee took them as fact. This could only be a Gods idea of a fun way to mess with their citizens. Yet, Ghost would still amuse herself exploring the floating world soon enough, though Seele had her attention right now.

She was Queen, leader, Czarina... A short time in the highest role and it appeared to Ghost that the Necromancer was not in for an easy ride. There were those who challenged, those who believed her not worthy of the crown and her muttered words portrayed her understandable discontent. Yet, Ghost offered her a bleak smile, she wasn't exactly one for warm words of encouragement after all. "The price of your crown. There are many who would want to take that from you" it was a desolate truth, a suggestion that maybe her leader would always have to keep one eye over her shoulder, yet an idle ruler was not a respected one. The more Seele defeated these challenges, the greater her name became. Ghost hoped she would not succumb to these challenges, be consumed by fear, if such a thing should happen then the shadow would take the crown from the enchantress.

"Slow. I'm not the best in the company of others, however, I am getting better. I know more of them now than I did before" she admitted freely. Her awkwardness and tendency to remain hidden wasn't a secret after all. Ghost was great in her ambiguity to watch and catch those who would appear a threat, yet understanding and knowing allies around her came much more harder.

Seele pressed on with matters then and her request came as a surprise to Ghost. She had always been the Necromancers spy, the unremarkable one in the shadowy corner watching you munch on grass and though Ghost had always remembered to aim higher this still came as a surprise. Sleuth. Hawkeye she knew little of, his name and his appearance was all, she had made little comment on his appointment due to this lack of information. Seele would know about him better in the end.

The banshee thought once more of her mother in disdain, in triumph, she had now risen further than her dam ever did. Ever could. "As you wish." She dipped her head in recognition of the honour before rising it again as Sleuth of the Hidden Falls. "I will make sure we have the best spies" she promised.

Useful. Ghost knew it was, to have a vast amount of knowledge was power after all? Yet this task of socialising, of purposefully seeking out others was against every rule she had grown up with. In one instance she agreed, it was a skill she lacked, a weakness that plagued her. Then again, in another, it made her lips tremble and her heart quiver at an emotion she did not all together understand how to deal with. Fright. How could she explain that every time she came out from the shadows her mind instantly become on edge, that her heart thumped a little bit faster and her wings trembled, always ready to run. Could she tell Seele that even now on this island filled with a great many, all living shoulder to shoulder, made it difficult for her to relax. She felt claustrophobic, as if the onslaught of unsettling feelings was slowly choking her of air. However, if she was to complete this task and overcome this weakness then her days would have to be filled with discomfort.

"I hope so" her eyes were searching for Seele's as her cool voice escaped inky lips before finally she cast them across the island, a concerned frown briefly consuming her features. "This task... Is uncomfortable for me" it was the best way she could put it without outright saying she was afraid. There was something choking her back from saying such a hideous word. Her face turned back to its usual neutral then, perhaps only a small ironic smile playing on her lips as she thought of herself and Seele. It seemed they both had their own problems.

Ghost returned her attention to her new title and to the gaze of the Necromancer. Her face of concentration nodding at her leaders words of encouragement and service. There were many similarities between them, their feet guided on a quiet breeze and their hearts hidden in shadow. Perhaps that was why they always understood one another. Ghost was surprised by how this made her feel comfortable, a warm feeling that enveloped her and offered contentment. She brushed over it to contemplate later, when Seele's influence was no longer present. Cloven hooves brushed the arena's surface and her eyes narrowed towards the Czarina "I'm almost tempted to drag you into the arena. See if those skills are better than the last we fought, even if it was such a short skirmish" she laughed quietly, rare for Ghost. The banshee hardly registered that fight as a win, though it was perhaps the only weapon in her arsenal that she could prod Seele with to satiate her odd humour.

"I will spare you this time" she turned her crooked smile back across the island, interest entering her coal black gaze. "I think I will see who else lurks upon this floating rock" she affirmed. There was much she hadn't seen and that made Ghost uncomfortable. She liked to know with whom she was to be sharing space with. "What will you do, Czarina?"

Their conversation descended into short statements hinting that it was time they parted ways until needs made their paths cross again. With such similar personalities and demanding roles, they were bound to run into one another again. Ghost rustled her wings and fidgeted as her wings unbalanced her slightly, thoughts turned to the skies above and the new tasks before her. In the face of all things bizarre the banshee would try her best to make most of this opportunity that brought them so close to the other herds. Perhaps there would be new strange faces lingering on the island with even stranger and juicer secrets. She hoped this to be the case or else this floating nonsense would be just that, nonsense.

Before they departed, Seele mentioned one other small task (or suggestion) and the sprites eyes prickled with interest. Another spy had joined their ranks! She felt her heart lift at the prospect of others who had the same interest, their herd was young, but already there was a sign of a lack in skill in the undercover department. Bellona. An easy flowing name to remember and an appearance that shouldn't be hard to spot from a crowd.

"I imagine it must be hard for her to hide in the shadows" Ghost thought she had it bad with the red tipped wings. Never mind all the shades of a peacock.

Mental note stored away the banshee chuckled at her Czarina's last statement as she began to trot away. The sleuth called after once, not to stop her, but simply to advise. "Jump! I'll catch you" her twisted whisper cracked into an eerie laugh as she crept off in the other direction.