Zahra, Ilham, and Hanna

It was pride that turned angels into devils

The antlered stallion came to rest in the company of the freshly met pair, eyes rolling, staring, before he spoke and issued a rather relieving grin; Zahra, though still very much unsure about his unusual manner, steadied herself under the reassurance of the thrice-horned and with ears dancing between them both listened as the conversation seemed resume. Perhaps his type of flair was something she would through the years to come, learn to appreciate in a world of discord and ill-temper - certainly it was nothing she had ever come across in the wilds of Helovia.

While she stood there quietly, it came to pass that yellow eyes began to inspect (as discreetly as could be managed), both the taller mare, and the shorter, red-bellied male. They were a curious blend of colour - the three of them - crimson, purple and gold; patterned, painted black and white. Zahra and Ezital even shared the same pasty face! It softened her mood in a childish sense, gave her the vague impression of at least one thing in common and certainly it helped to quash that insecure feeling which had risen inside her mind. All at once the stallion seemed a whole lot less intimidating.

All the while, there had been mention of a tulu-army, a hidden fall and titles - none of which made any real sense to the girl, and more than fuelled her distraction. It was only as he bent a knee in strange gesture that Zahra’s full attention resumed. Fiachra had offered forth her name to the curious steed, and the young pegasus nodded quickly (unsure whether she was expected to bow also), as her own name was voiced. Thoughtfully observant eyes found the mare for a second as she stumbled through the filly’s place of residence, but soon enough it was declared well enough - the north. Again her small skull bounced rhythmically, lips brandishing an ever-growing smile.

Zahra soon learned that Fiachra was searching for a place to rest, and she stiffened pearly white teeth across her tongue, only long enough for the slender adult to finish her story - it all sounded very much like that of she and her sisters’, and eagerly she licked her lips, wondering if the blue-horned had come from as far south as the Deep Forest too.

"Fia!" she blurted at last (adopting an easier name much the same way she had done for Ashamin barely a month before), hardly noticing her own attempt to rid the other of that itch - subconsciously she moved towards the disturbed hair upon the mare’s raven flank, aiming to place teeth gently and briefly upon whatever was causing that nagging irritation. "Did you come from the forest too? Asha found me there, he asked if I wanted a family and a home. I said yes and now the Basin is my home - you could come and see Asha? And Johnny too, and Eldada and… (maybe not Deimos)." The invitation was as earnest as the glitter in her sunlit gaze as it switched rapidly between the pair. "I reckon they would like you too Ez… Ez… zzza-l!"