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Africa lingered in thought by the edge of the lake. It had been weeks since the unexpected and not particularly welcome arrival of the erratic young Pegasus, Aurelia. She thought it curious that the normally outspoken creature, brazen and ridiculous, had remained in the shadows of herd-life since her return; she did not hate the girl, but mistrust and disappointment had severely tarnished the fragile affiliation they shared.

As the suns turned over without drama, and with no sign of the prevalent disloyalty she was known for, the wary one-winged’s mind began to soften to the idea of her permanency. Closing her eyes meditatively, she sighed and prayed softly, "Can she be trusted Lord? I'm not sure. My heart holds onto this weariness and my mind aches at just the thought of her..." Africa didn’t need a response, the contemplation was rhetorical, and she could only imagine how wearing the pointless quarrels of mortals might be. Nevertheless, it felt right to share with him all which weighed upon her so heavily.

"...so much time has passed already, and I fear my pettiness holding onto this grudge. It all seems inconsequential now, but the scar of her betrayal runs deep through me. I likened her as my sister, and she vanished into thin air- disregarding all which I’d offered, flirting with the dangers I’d hoped to shield her from." Pastel eyes opened, glumness pooling through their midst and long dark lashes fluttered jadedly. "The herd will decide... That will be fair." she declared then definitively, and dipped trembling grey lips to drink.

By some (unfortunate) coincidence, a vision of Aurelia inundated her settling, clearing mind then, and Africa groaned; but the mare with the golden accents was apparently not alone. She closed her eyes reluctantly, hesitantly, and when again they opened she was far above the rough golden desert sands, gazing down upon the two mare's arrival. Have you seen her before? she probed curiously, but Silas’s hooked beak shook, no.

Africa fell heavily from the mind of her bonded, her waiting, motionless body jolting suddenly as her creamy gaze peeled apart. Quickly, with cracking knees twisting beneath, the Starry-Eyed heaved up the crumbling bank of the lake and broke into a loose, undulating canter in the direction of the pair. Silas remained above them, watching and circling, guiding his bonded forward from the thick luxury of their paradise. Sweat beaded her mottled hide, lathering against the friction of her sprint, but she barely noticed; like the weight of the blazing sun and the dry sour air, they were all qualities of this rugged land she’d grown to both respect and cherish.

Soon she was upon them, slowing amidst plumes of stirred dust, smiling; pampering Aurelia to affection she was yet to earn. But Africa was a tender soul who wanted terribly to find the best in the world, and in this instance she was prepared to believe that the younger mare might truly be making an active effort to better the territory she wished apparently, to call home. Perhaps her motivation was not as self centred as remembered. "Afternoon..." the one-winged greeted them quietly, placidly, and she turned to the horned stranger thoughtfully. Eyes narrowed curiously towards the hybrid mare’s arcing hooves, and then promptly back to find her crimson gaze. "Welcome to Dragon’s Throat. I’m Africa, Sultana of these parts."

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Aurelia spoke, revealing that she and Destry were mates, no less. Almost instantly the Starry-Eyed’s already slight, frail confidence in her once proclaimed sister began to dissipate, and with it her heart sank; the amiable expression glazed as she held her tongue tightly between clenched teeth. The girl just could not escape the rut of her childhood, and it was frustrating to watch, exasperating. She seemed to move from one drama to the next, acting with reckless abandon, prying for attention; trying for reactions. It seemed too that their relationship was news to the obviously young hybrid; her face turned towards the apparently unexpected quality of the introduction, eyes wide, body tensed. She managed a smile though, and agreed with her painfully immature friend. Africa sighed despairingly, resigning helplessly to accept Aurelia’s next game, and breathed softly through gritted teeth, "How lovely for you both." The one-winged mare couldn’t help but pity the naivety of the red-eyed girl but for the sake of her own sanity said nothing.

And Gaucho? she pondered silently as Silas scoffed above. Africa wondered beneath a passive expression just how many romantic interests she had amassed to this point.

The darkest of the pair seemed to soften in stance and a smile grew across her small mouth; then her tongue began to squirm as crimson eyes hurried off to explore the world into which she’d barely been accepted. Curious... The Starry-Eyed thought, her own pale gaze narrowing carefully as it danced between the girls. Silas watched vigilantly from above. Grand questions for a visitor. they deliberated together with growing suspicion. Trouble flanked Aurelia, and Africa was not the effervescent fool she’d once been. "There is another beside me..." she answered tactfully, "Though it seems irrelevant at this moment." She loved the white dove Sohalia as a sister, respected and admired her; but there seemed little reason to discuss the matter with one who had not declared the reason for her arrival- who was travelling in the company of someone so unpredictable, unbalanced... She cast an eye across to Aurelia, shifted her weight casually and offered a cool smile. "So what brings you to Dragon’s Throat today, Destry?"

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A home...

She still remembered the soft, frightened stutter of the snowy-hued filly; so alone and vulnerable beneath the old, gnarled shadow of the Threshold forest. Aurelia had been the epitome of innocence standing there. A sweet helpless child, who needed tenderness and care- a wickedly deceptive soul, conniving and self-absorbed, concealed beneath a mask so unfortunately appealing to the kind heart of the one-winged grey. She had asked to see Africa’s home, Dragon’s Throat, and all too obligingly the horribly naive mare had whisked the babe home; promises of safety and belonging radiating in good faith.

Wasn’t she a fool!

The golden girl held her silence this time, leaving her girlfriend to face the Sultana’s none too warm questioning alone... naturally, she mused quietly, drawing back careful eyes to Destry, relationships are a matter of convenience alone. She couldn’t help but presume that the loss of Aurelia’s bonded recently, the infant snake Shilva, was partly to blame for this new self-indulging infatuation, and felt a surge of regret for the dark youth before her. Inexperience had been her downfall also, along with her desire to do right.

Nevertheless, the starkly stained hybrid answered, glancing towards her mate as warmth encompassed her young-looking expression- Africa wanted to gag; tactfully though, a quiet smile curled through her rust-grey lips instead. "In the name of our Lord of the Sun, I welcome you then Destry." She answered promptly. The Starry-Eyed would not hold one so inexperienced accountable for the transgressions of her spouse, and her features softened a little. Time would tell her true worth. "Come now, there is shade and water further inland." With her only wing opened in gesture, Africa turned to invite the pair (attention mainly focused towards the newest), back towards the oasis.

She walked briskly, the burning burden of the high sun motivation enough to drive home with haste; and said nothing more until long, lean legs were brushing between clusters of Spinifex, dappled shade swinging across her body as it slid comfortably through the oasis. "If you would like to pursue an education with us, do let me know." Africa led them to the edge of the lake, and turned. "Freshen yourselves now, and seek me out if there is anything you need."

[ooc: @[Aurelia] & @[Destry]. I will request her rank to be updated to citizen until she asks for another rank.

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Perhaps the golden wrath of the hot season (the blistering normalcy of the desert), was not the only reason beads of sweat lengthened into narrow channels down her flinching puddly pelt. The shade offered pleasant relief, the cool water as her nose dipped to drink, was brilliantly refreshing, but Africa felt not the sweet respite expected. Instead, her tail began to swipe anxiously across her left hock and then the right, black and crimson-red tendrils slithering over skin beneath the hungry lick of her adorning fire.

There seemed to be a twine of sorts (of uncertainty) strangling her heart, emotion bubbling at the base of her throat and though she tried earnestly to brandish only the flat stoic expression she had greeted them with, a grim shadow lurked behind pale, glittery eyes.

Aurelia’s fresh attitude had not been overlooked entirely on the way to the oasis. The mare’s choppy gait had sliced crudely through the soft, gravelly sand of the desert, very obviously so, and it was with a careful eye that the Starry-Eyed finally turned when next the pale, gold-dust girl spoke. Suddenly though, the other plunged without hesitation into the tranquil fluid, and wary eyes expanded to betray her surprise. So long ago the younger Pegasus had shied from the churning waves combing the southern coast, revealing that she feared water. At the time no coaxing could have eased the terror, and the dappled one had taken the filly instead to rest more comfortably atop a dune skirting the oasis.

Absently, one long ear wandered towards that dune; it was far smaller now, the harsh peninsula wind had carved it away over the years.

She sighed deeply, and refocusing eyes found themselves settling between the young hybrid’s startling red eyes. "So be it." She smiled quietly, thoughtfully. There was no doubting Dragon’s Throat needed more that shared her interest. "Sacre is our Sleuth. He will guide you and teach you well. Once you have settled, I will gladly introduce you both." Africa paused, turning suddenly to Aurelia who was wallowing in the pool. "Unless you wish to?

Anyway girls, enjoy your swim. I’m afraid there are yet errands for me to run today." She smiled gently, appreciating the paler mare’s offer, an olive branch perhaps that Africa didn’t want to reject entirely. Ruffling the feathers lining her lone wing, the dappled, fire-trimmed Sultana turned to leave.