More came, slowly but surely drawn to the glory of the sun. When he met her eye, she dipped her head deeply, having only the greatest respect for the lord of day. Every once in a while her gaze would dance away from the figure of her god though, his brilliance too great to behold directly for long, and there she'd nonchalantly survey the growing tide of horses. She caught sight of that mare again, and startled faintly when Mesec appeared directly beside her. Despite herself, Ampere's jaw clenched tight with hate, and she balefully jerked her head away from the sight of them.

In doing so,

She continued to stand alone.

Thankfully the Sun spoke up, giving something for Ampere to focus on. His words were the sort of confidence she was accustomed to, and proud to know. Though, she did doubt him nearly as soon as he'd said it, but then just as quickly burned with shame for such a feeling. He was the magnificent after all, and his battle knowledge far exceeded her own. She had been drawn here, like most of the horses she supposed, in preparation for another fight, ready to defend their home and their god, but it seemed there wasn't a need. It left her feeling empty. She had hoped this fight would re-invigorate her purpose with the Throat, if not to her then to them. She'd hoped the fight would help her burn away whatever ire remained clutched in her chest after the meeting, ire she didn't want to direct towards her herdmates but did nonetheless. She had hoped that this fight would exhaust her, all of them, and in doing so unite them again. Instead, she was left with nothing but an outside glow from the sun, a warmth that seemed unable to brush over the cold storm she carried inside.

Frowning, Ampere glanced around, watching some horses begin to disperse already. What am I to do? she wondered, her eyes caught by Aithniel as the Sun moved towards her. His touch was sincere as his wing brushed his daughter. Or was it, their daughter, she wondered once again, and though she had no further evidence or truth of it other than a whale's words Ampere felt crushed to watch a family she wasn't a part of.

She continued to stand alone.

In the wilds she had started alone, but in the Throat - now - it seemed she had steadily alienated herself. Every time a new bond forged linking souls that never should have been, she lost another friend, another piece of her family. Eventually, maybe even now, she'd finally run out of hands to lose her grip on. She was just clutching at dust and wind now, chasing sunlight that always faded.

Gently she closed her eyes, black tar slipping from the corners like obsidian tears while a cough racked her frame. Morose, she slipped away from the group, casting herself into the new landscape int he hopes she might glean some faith from the Sun's new lands when she couldn't find any in his old. Either way, she didn't feel ready to go home, not yet.