Mauja the FrostHeart
ice cold man watches earth die, eternal winter takes its reign

A new set of wing beats stalled their conversation, and Mauja felt his own pace slow as he squinted up at the sky. The harsh sun obscured much of his vision, but soon enough a brown mare disentangled itself from the sky and crashed down with harsh words. So, indeed, someone had died in the attack, and judging by the mare's fire and Azzuen's brief, pained expression, someone that had meant a lot to the herd. Mauja's proud head bowed down slightly, warmth discernible in the naturally cold depths of his eyes. It wasn't that he was looking at things coldly per se, it was just their color that fooled many into thinking him arrogant and disdainful. Which he was, he just didn't let it show that often. Briefly he closed his eyes. "My condolences on your loss," he said quietly, sincere. He wasn't a stranger to loss, and wasn't here to incite hostility. He was here to get on peaceful terms with the Pegasus herd, so he didn't have to worry about them invading his home. However, with the mare leader's stoic frame in his way, moving ground to a halt and Azzuen - greeted politely, but with less warmth he would've expected of someone who diligently guarded borders - sidled up next to her and folded his wings. Inwardly, Mauja cursed it - being of a pure white coat except for some black spots, he was quite sensitive to the harsh sunlight, and this summer wasn't making it easier on him. His skin was hot and painful to touch, and now he was robbed of his protective shadow.

Kri the Resolute she called herself, and he decided that he had no idea if she was prideful and not so socially adept, or if she was plain suspicious of him. She seemed a bit... well, Azzuen had hardly been the picture of inviting warmth, but he had offered to escort him to their oasis, but this mare seemed more like she was blocking his path. Maybe it was just coincidence, though. "Mauja the FrostHeart," he said, this time giving his full name. "An honor meeting you, Kri." He'd always been one for dramatic courtesy when on official duty, but neither in a mocking nor a fawning way: there was a kind of sincerity to it, mirrored in the pale blue of his eyes. Slowly he rotated his head to take in the otherwise empty blue skies, red rocks caging him but not the two pegasus. This was a good land for them, and that they seemed to not house warm feelings for the Sun pleased him. Perhaps there was still some vermin to root out, but at least not an entire cult. He allowed his gaze to fall back to the mare. He decided that she was of a strong mind, confident but not necessarily wise. Only time would tell.

"My reasons for coming here are simple," he began, not waiting for Kri to question him on his purpose. Her entire presence screamed the question at him anyway, and waiting for her to outright ask was just annoying. "Congratulations on your victory." Said nearly hesitantly; he didn't want to trample all over the unknown warrior's sacrifice for his herd. "I didn't want to deal with Ra for several reasons, so there's no traditional bond between our lands that I am aware of. However, I've got no interest in having hostile or suspicious relationships with you and your herd, Kri - in fact, quite the opposite." He tilted his head, not exactly sure what he wanted to say - ally with me? Don't attack me and mine, and I won't attack yours? He paused for a moment, giving her a level look. "Unless you're at the head of a Pegasus supremacist war band, perhaps we could, ah, establish the foundations for a future alliance to grow upon?" He didn't want to force the Edge upon her, but neither did he want to wallow around and force her to ask pointless, leading questions. Woe, politics.

Mauja did not believe in deciding on alliances or friendships. He believed in creating an opportunity for them, and seeing if something happened; you couldn't decide someone would be your friend, you had to see if you got along, and then if they actually held through even when the world was burning. The same with alliances. They could agree on not attacking each other, but they couldn't force an alliance. Besides, Mauja wasn't sure when he'd backstab her, but one day it would come.