Tension strained the air and the one-winged mare grew all the more uncomfortable as chillingly antagonistic eyes found her. She was aware that the union between Ktulu and Midas had ended somewhat bitterly, caused the heart of the stallion to shatter into one thousand pieces. She knew also of the recent illness which had consumed both his thoughts and his health; sorrowful, painful mourning too, for the child born to the crimson eyed mare and Earth, who had been accepted as one of his own. Africa would never have presumed to understand their apparently cold relationship, and though she let a bland veil fall across her fraught expression, melancholy seized her compassionate soul.

The heavy, intimidating black stallion who no longer divided the group with his body, confirmed with only a nod that a healer would soon meet them and that he and the angry Unicorn would in turn take their leave. Africa could barely withhold her relief at the news, but for the sake of seemingly frail negotiations she rolled her shoulders visibly to mask the feeling, and grazed a closed eye by her knee. Though he (in particular) had showed them no forward enmity, the dappled Medic wished not to find the duo’s company again soon – she was fearful, felt horribly insecure and troubled too, by the frosty reception their gesture had been given.

She did not remember World’s Edge harbouring such hatred – vague memory of the benevolent mare, Hellena; of Smoke the Wild Rose and the blue Dragon who had comforted Silas. They had offered freely, only kindness and care...

There was a sound behind the unfriendly pair, and Africa welcomed Resplendence’s distraction with a fond snort and face lifted quickly, high into the air. The lone wing clenched warily against her sweating flank prickled and the feathers dressing it ruffled with eager anticipation; though she tried to conceal her impatience, the flaming mare could hardly wait to be rid of the un-welcoming party. Archibald offered them a few final words, hard like she might have expected from an enemy patrol, rather than neutral as was the affiliation they shared. The savage looking mare paused a moment longer as she passed by Midas, and the note of her voice – the message plain and clear – struck the one-winged like a knife through the heart.

As they vanished through the skirting forest, Africa touched a caring nose to the black and white stallion’s shoulder. She could not ease the burden written through his posture, could not take it away... long smoky ears pitched forward suddenly, but the idea was quickly repressed however; set aside for a time down the track.

To her delight, unbridled at last, Resplendence offered nothing of the same hostility. Warmth returned to her expression and she stepped nearer to the bag (which had been opened by the shining red dragon in the pale mare’s company. “Go ahead,” she encouraged quietly, dipping her nose as though to invite his inspection. She was not much of a herbalist – not in comparison to this renown mare – and the green mass of foliage within suggested a selection primarily of grass, leaves plucked from ground-crawling plants, and a smaller amount of the finest herbs the Falls had to offer. Oblivious, Africa was thrilled to deliver the gift.

The other mare offered to take them deeper – another sign that not all had been so terribly tarnished like their previous company – and the flaming mare nodded buoyantly, accepting her hospitality politely on behalf of her hurting mate.