The mare and her twice-horned company presented the most inhospitable front, and Africa’s expression sank with dismay as the other woman sliced the bud of the dandelion and turned her back. Behind her there was an ominous rumbling - the zephyr perched across dappled flesh was not at all enthralled by the sinister pair his beloved had set her mind to meet. It became quickly apparent that her painted affection shared similar feelings (though really she was too wrapped up in bitter disappointment to realise). The weight of the world, her bulk, the insufferable humidity and the unfriendly creatures of this land – it all seemed to climax like a swollen bead of water dangling from the precipice.

Many things that she might have been able to shoulder months before seemed now to snowball and prickle irrationally beneath the pale complexion of her face.

It was a fine thing that the child slithered forward through the stewing bodies to join them. Dulled eyes swung from the gold-embellished features of her lover to find the tiny figure gazing incredulously from a distance. Enough to pierce her sobered mood, a faint smile flicked across storm-grey lips and her elegant skull lowered to draw her nearer. “These flames don’t hurt.” She answered gently, failing to realise that her character had not that long ago been so naive; she felt old, weathered and intrigued by the small filly’s curiosity. “We would love you to help... what is your name? I am Africa, this is Midas.” She had always been fond of foals, but her tone hinted of maternal care more powerfully now, than it had ever done in the past.

The colt who was with the babe held his silence, but he received no less of a smile.

Perhaps her skin sent off a pheromone into the wind – maybe it was just that these children were drawn to her for the same reason moths sought their flame; another filly came upon them, and with her a second colt. Her spirit seemed effervescent, and by them all disappointment had seeped into the greedy hand of oblivion. Africa barely realised the callous pair lingered on nearby. “Africa and Midas...” she told the newest arrivals thoughtfully, noting as she gestured towards the collared stallion that Fina and Neve had returned with Silas. “...and Silas, Fina and Neve,” she added with a nod to each mentioned before turning her focus back to the young foursome.

So engrossed was she, that the Starry-Eyed hardly seemed to notice the Sleuth and her canine companion pass by.