It had been a seemingly never ending night, in desperate need to feel and see such a long night end finally, the girl had watched the world transforming around her as the day took hold. She'd risen with the sun after an uncomfortably warm night with had resulted in tossing and turning before finally giving up on the premise of sleep. Instead she waited for her favourite time of day, when the sun first began to rise and colours filtered across the sky. This morning, at first, it had been the lightest shades of purple dappling the blackness of the night's sky. Then streaks of pink broke through the purple, eventually taking over the morning sky. Then oranges, yellows and golds took hold and broke over the horizon while the pink began to fade into blue. Aside from the odd pretty sunset, it was the closet this world got to the likes of her dream realms. It was the time when the many princess felt closest to the world around her, a time of day that she understood.

Yet, as with every sunrise, it fell away to the day and what an absolute scorcher it was! The heat had quickly risen and it had done so without mercy for the inhabitants of the Throat. Aelin had found herself without shelter and quickly sweltering in the heat of the day. She pondered visiting the poison water to cool herself off but the confidence she'd experienced as a youngster faded. No longer was she quite so keen to go paddling in the rough waters that surrounded her home.

The moment a cool breeze rolled it's away across the Throat, Aelin spread her wings wide. She wished to feel the coolness wash over her entire body but it lasted merely seconds and once again the sun was baking the land around her. Sweat covered her in a fine, glistening coat and sand clung to her hair. Shaking out her coat she turned towards the oasis that she could just make out in the distance. Spreading her wings wide she beat them quickly, powerfully, once twice and then leapt into the skies. She wasn't sure if it was actually warmer up here or if the act of flying was contributing immensely to the sudden increase of her body temperature. Still she quickly made her way to the body of water that offered a wet relief from the drought that claimed her throat. Surely others would be needing the same as her? She'd been born into the heat of this home, preferring it over all other homes and the (assumed) more accommodating climates. Yet even she found the day to be stifling.

Landing before the water the girl wasted no time dipping her lips into the warmed waters. Taking many deep and grateful gulps she felt the dryness in her throat quickly soothed and eventually completely washed away. Pausing for a moment she straightened up, the water that had splashed onto her chest had washed away sweat and sand. Her thoughts flickered back to the meetings she'd had over the past few weeks, she wasn't sure any of them actually counted towards her quest. It was disappointing to say the least. Aelin had defiantly embarked on this task under the false pretence that it would be 'quick'.

Rolling her eyes at her naive impression of the world Aelin dipped her head and continued drinking.

She paid little mind to any shadows that flittered over the rough sands of her home. The refreshing waters held her attention completely. In the end it was the sound of large winds which finally got her attention off of the waters and back into her surroundings. It was then she noticed that a huge mass was coming directly towards her. A gasp gasped her lips as she struggled to gather her wits and move out of the oncoming figure. Then her brain clicked. "Papa?" It was a quiet and rather unsure question. Was he...was he about to tackle her? The thought pulled at the corner of her lip, she needed to learn how to fight. The girl stood still, watching as his hooves skimmed the water and his fiery wings fanned out from his flanks slowing his descent. To Aelin he appeared to sink down into the cooling waters. The result of his mass entering the waters was taking the shape of a wave.

No not just a wave.

A huge wave.

Oh man. This was going to drench her.

The yearling didn't have time to escape the oncoming rushing waters. Standing there gaping she simply braced for impact. Then within moments was was swallowed by the water. When she came up gasping for air she stared at Gaucho. Her papa's laughter rose above the spraying droplets, as did the hissing of Mara and the amused trills of Vorsa. Her own laughter joined in, roaring with delight. Vorsa, who had flown away from Gaucho as soon as she knew it was time to get the heck out of doge, had moved near Aelin's shoulder. Turning to the phenix Alien giggled ""a little warning next time!"

"You better watch out!" With a squeal of delight she charged towards her father, with only half a thought of worry for Vorsa who probably wouldn't want to get any water splashed onto her. "I'm gonna get cha!" Water sprayed around her body and when she finally reached Gaucho's side she aimed a few quick nips towards his chest and shoulder trying to entice him into a wrestling match. "Come get me Papa!" She challenged, delighted just by the very presence of the dun. It was always him who came through for her, always protecting and watching over. Pulling her out of what might have been another day wasting her time on thinking about missing family members.

The darkness of the day seemed to have evaporated.