I realized that we were being followed not long after taking leave of that bloody corpse; Fina took note of this as well. She watched the dappled stallion from my rear, relatively unconcerned by him and more occupied with grooming her flashy tail. The stranger made no attempt to conceal himself and for many long moments I figured we were simply trailing the same road by happens chance. Those creamy colored hooves kept coming forward though, fixed toward our position. Eventually the distance between us was closed enough that I’m forced to regard him.

Honeyed gaze turns to his emerald stare with a reasonable amount of questions filtering forth. I didn’t have to wait long, the fellow started speaking. His tone and words sparked my interest, brows rose and a small smile flitted across my mug, “Hail,” I replied with a short dip of my crown, ebony chin just barely brushed the golden gem that lay imbedded in silver and steel. He offered the suggestion of a proposition, “So says ye?” Ears drifted curiously forward.

Neve peeked her head higher to look past my feathers. He stated clear intentions and claimed to have a mind for finding those of murderous intent. Partners? My smile grew and eyes glazed over with the sheen of consideration, “Those who tend to understand murderers are often killers themselves.” It wasn’t an accusation, simply a fact of truth.

We’d been tailed by someone else. She comes forward, a dark woman from the north. Aye, I could taste the smell of Basin lingering on her flesh. Features tighten and the smile I wore vanishes into a lean frown. Clearly she desires to join us on…whatever quest was to come of this. Sialia. Yar, I had half a mind to turn her away, my patience is thin and growing lighter by each moment – but, say true, a Basin mare could be useful in gaining Intel from a clan that would otherwise be out of our reach. If our killer was hiding in their numbers.

“Well met, Sialia.” Does my tone sound strained? Aye. But at least I’m replying and not scowling, “My name is Midas,” muzzle shifted round to point toward my flaming companion and the shy ice colored fledgling, “They are called Fina and Neve.” Earth had schooled me to find forgiveness and let go of old resentments. When I looked upon this woman I couldn’t help but wonder if he was testing me.

Dark mind indeed. Perhaps hers isn’t really as dark as mine.

“Does either of ye have a guess as to whom the murderer might be?” I could label none and would set the blame to nobody as of yet.

@[Desperado]
@[Sialia]

Neither of them had a clue as to whom our mystery killer was. Yar, a useful band of riddlers we'd become for this murder. Of course it didn't help that there wasn't much evidence to go on. Black hairs, no scent or tracks to follow. Yar, not much at all. "For now we wait until something changes. There is little else to do." Until more evidence showed up we would be shooting black horses in the dark and there was a lot of black horses.

"Strange things have been happening all across this land. I fear they are somehow connected and it is not a moral soul we hunt for this crime." But a darkness, far more powerful than the gods; powerful because it had the ability to move in shadows, hidden from their gaze. Relying on unworldly things to nourish its hunger. My feathers tighten their hold, thinking about a possible unseen enemy gave me cause to feel anxious.

Whatever it was, the creature or spirit had intelligence, it had a will and a version of emotion or the lack of. "Perhaps the land of death will have an answer. There is still much darkness plaguing that territory." I glanced between them and settled on the basin lass, "Has anything unusual happened within the northern mountains?" Any living moss, flesh eating worms, or raining frogs mayhaps? Of course I didn't add the second question, it was substantial more interesting to learn what/if something had befallen them.

@[Desperado]
@[Sialia]