Things were changing in Dragon’s Throat. The herd that Megaera had dedicated herself to wasn’t the largest in Helovia and the ranks of the warriors were few, and so Gaucho had set their current hopes on other measures. With the Sun Gond’s blessing, the whole heard would soon be working together to protect the Throat by breaking the land bridge that connected it to the mainland. It seemed a smart security measure to Meg, but to her it still seemed better to back up those measures with a strong fighting force. The little warrior, rarely skilled at making a good first impression, left the recruiting to the more diplomatic members of her herd and had lately stuck close to home, trying never to leave a corner of the Throat unwatched.

She didn’t spot the newcomer until he was near the fire and from her current altitude he was little more distinctive than a black shimmer on the sand. Still, when Meg focused her sharp eyes on the figure, she was set on high alert. Images of her herdmates flashed through her mind as she tried to place the black figure. This one had wings, which ruled out the two colts she’d been on patrol with. The mane and tail weren’t washed in white, which ruled out the Sleuth and the Chancellor. A stranger. Without a moment’s hesitation, Megaera pulled her large earthy wings close to her and let herself fall. She hurtled towards the ground in a tight spiral, aiming for the diviner’s fire and rapidly picking up speed.

The mare crashed to the ground a few yards from the flickering flames. Her landings were normally so ungraceful but purpose gave a tightness to her movements and even as her hooves sent a cloud of dust and stones she was solidly on her feet. She spun to face the supposed intruder with a stern stare. She stood quiet for a moment, sizing up the stallion before her. Why did they always have to be so enormous? Automatically, she drew herself up, wings high , dark feathers flared and hooves firmly planted. “You’ve come unescorted to the Diviner’s Fire. State you purpose, stranger.” Her unfeminine rumble came out in clipped words. It was a mark of the progress she’d made in her time in Dragon’s Throat that her tone wasn’t overtly hostile. Still it should have been clear that Meg took no nonsense when it came to the protection her home. Troublemakers were not welcome.