Noah…

Nora…

Norahh?...

It was a whisper, a hint, a trick of the wind against her ears. The day was descending into afternoon, which would soon descend further into evening, and then twilight, night, midnight…

Amaris had no intention of lingering that long outside the borders of her home, but by the same token she was not in a hurry to move, to return, to leave the comforts of the pocket of lush pasture she had found, and resume what one might call 'normal herd life routine'. It wasn't that she hated her routine, her 'duties', minimal though they were, but she, like everyone else, was well entitled to a break, a moment of respite.

Besides, one of her duties was to think, and she did that no matter where she went, so she wasn't really shirking her duties so much as 'working remotely'.

The wind was playing tricks on her, rustling, rumbling, imitating the sounds of other beings nearby, their voices, their footsteps - and then came the mental note, the interjection from her dragon, not the wind, he said, feathered horses from threshold, he supplied images of the pegasus he saw, recognising their far-less-bloodier frames from the recent foray into the Threshold.

Amaris raised her crown, determining the position of her bonded with a quick thought. Hidden, in a tree, overlooking a neighbouring clearing, she confirmed, before urging her limbs into motion and drifting smoothly towards the area. Her interest was piqued for various reasons, notably she was pleased to know that the pair were alive and well, though she was concerned about the amount of choice they had in deciding where they would reside once safely within Helovia's borders.

Had the gelding who had so swiftly ignored her presence taken them to his home in the north, braved the potentially treacherous weather with weakened followers and immersed them into his herd? Had he even asked them, or informed them, of what they were getting into?

Were they even aware of how much freedom they had, how many choices they had, that they could change their mind, choose a different path, if they so desired?

A soft, musical note rustled up from her throat, its tones half dragon and half equine, its intent friendly, warm, welcoming, like a lingering ray of sunshine on a cooling Orangemoon afternoon. Ears pricked as she rounded the last curve of a tree's perimeter, pools of gold looking forward to capture the figures of the pegasi for herself.

"Hello," she offered, the word sculpted carefully, her eyes roaming over their tired, travel-worn bodies, the curiosity and concern showing on her face - she would not hide the worry she felt for their wellbeing, though she was also relieved again, to see them whole and unharmed. The dragonmare paused her steps a good few strides away from them still, as she had when she first laid eyes upon them in the Threshold, unwilling to encroach so far upon their bubble of comfort that she triggered undue distress.

"It is good to see you both standing," she added, her smile as warm as the tones she spoke, her posture easy - she had Dramyrth still watching the area for her from his hidden spot amongst the canopy, his golden scales blending easily with the changing, golden tones of the turning leaves, his eyes scouting the lands around them for any danger. She felt secure, and her body language said as much, as she greeted the two once more, for a second time, though perhaps it would be more productive than the first.

Amaris