The slightly guarded expression of the grullo relaxed along with Cera as the young pegasus speaks words of welcome rather than dismissal. Lace finds himself smiling back in turn, almost against his will eased by the simple kindness this horse exudes.

"Thank you" he said with noticeable relief - noticing himself for the first time how much he had counted on this single clue offered by the Sun Lord, and how much he had fretted to discover it was naught but a dead end - and shifted his weight to accommodate Fajira as the dragon slowly circled down through the air with the easy grace possessed by any dragon, to settle on his back. Her attention seemed to be on something other than the horses or the red furry creature that followed with Cera - it would normally had been awarded her full attention since it was strange and foreign and she didn't know it... But she seemed more occupied with something approaching on the horizon.

"This is Fajira, my soul-bound" the stallion presented, trying to keep up the conversation even though he was dying to know what was distracting the dragon so. "I..."

But he forgot what he was about to say when two birds became visible against the pale heavens, one black as night and the other so gray that it almost blended in with the sky. They seemed to be heading their way, and as Lace trailed off he watched in wonder as the two came down to land; and when the gray, thick-billed one suddenly started to change he felt his mouth fall open.

He had of course seen Mirage change from horse into dragon and back many a time, but it wasn't a sight he would ever get used to. The grullo should probably have realized that it could be possible to change into other guises - but to have it sprung on him like this was.. unexpected. It took some effort on his part to gather himself as a young mare emerged from the bird, and even longer for him to recognize her from the memories Fajira now eagerly had begun to dig up from his mind. When she greeted him by name it was all he could do not to step back in amazement, because of all the horses he had expected to see...

""Nell!" he exclaimed, surprise written all over his face. "Ah, but no... Africa, is that your true name? I remember, how could I ever forget? You look wonderful my dear, so much stronger than... last time." He broke off there and shifted uncomfortably, not sure how eager she was to remember the state she had been in when they met. Frozen and starved, gravely injured and so mistrustful that it had taken him hours to gain enough trust to be allowed to stand next to her. Lace had called her Nell at that time, finding that a borrowed name was better than none at all - and he had kept her company throughout a long, cold winter night, not really expecting to ever see the young filly alive again.

Looking at her now was like seeing a completely different horse. The colors were there, the missing wing was still missing... but between the fire that gently licked her locks and the spark of life in her eyes, he wouldn't have recognized her without Fajira's aid. Smiling warmly the stallion gazed between the gray and her winged companion... "Silas!" the dragon reminded excitedly, and inclined the head in a bow that was more than just polite.

"It truly is good to see you so well" he said softly, accompanied by the affectionate warbles of the dragon.