That day on the Steppe, Faelene had been burned into Phaedra's mind. Her scent, her deep watchful gaze, her muscular curves and gothic colouring. Had things happened differently that afternoon, Phae might have an entirely different view of the mare - she was powerful, and not un-attractive, not to a mare like Phae, anyways. She was sort-of drawn in by Faelene's rogue masculine appeal; her strength and resolve. Or would have been, had things gone down a different path for their trio. Phae and Tolio had more than patched up their differences, and had come together stronger than ever, emotionally and physically....but how would this meeting go?

Phae was a spy after all, in her forest, so it was not surprising that she was able to move more silently than most. She had picked up Faelene's scent and had instantly recognized it. Narrowing her eyes she had begun to pursue the mare immediately. What is she doing here? Phae wondered. She was sure that the mare knew that the Woods were the unofficial home of the Grey, and from having attended the meeting between the Grey and the Basin earlier this season, she knew Phaedra was a part of it. So why are you here Phae again thought. As she moved through the trees, the sooty mare mentally called to Stella, her companion; Stay close. Stella, for once, did not trill in reply, seemingly to understand the implications of her bonded's demands by the mental images she was picking up from her mind.

As Phae walked, tawny wings tucked neatly to her sides, she was surprised to find that she wasn't angry; at least not yet. Her heart and mind were still too blissfully warm from her night with Tolio. It was as if being together, in that way, had satisfied every longing, doused every flame of anguish and anger, and made her feel whole. She couldn't wait to go to him again - to tell him of the life stirring inside her belly. Did she have the glow of pregnancy, that other mares were said to have? Was her mane more lush? Did her eyes hold more sparkle? She wasn't certain - she was a naturally glowy creature to begin with, but she certainly felt different. As she neared Faelene's vicinity, she held onto the memories of Tolio, so that she would better hold onto her tongue with Faelene. "Lost or Lonely?" Phae quipped, uttering the first words that Faelene had ever spoken to her. Her words were level and without emotion. She would remain diplomatic in the forest of The Grey, as she had with Leander the day he paid them a visit. Is that why she is here? She wondered vaguely, finally pulling herself into the dark mare's view.

I wasn't aware you stalked females

Phae rolled her dazzling sea-green eyes, appearing to absently scan the canopy as she did so. Really she was looking for Stella. "Sugar, the things you don't know, could fill a book." She muttered with a silvery laugh, still looking into the trees. Her voice was light and yes, unmistakably flirtatious as was her nature. She had to keep her eyes glued to the leaves, lest the red-mare see the pulsating light in her eyes, and the deep crimson blush on her cheeks. It was the things Faelene didn't know which brought her such joy - her time spent with Tolio, his foal growing inside her…Phae bit the inside of her cheek to keep the smile from her face. She didn't want Faelene to know…as much as it would surely hurt the dark mare, or at least anger her, Phae would not bring it up with such intentions. No, the dark mare would only hear that secret from Phae's lips on this day, if she felt threatened. Confidently, she felt no fear around Faelene - not now, not ever again. The life in her belly, Phae believed, guaranteed her safety around the dark mare, if only for Tolio's sake.

From the trees, sensing Phae's mental calls, came a small bird; coloured with black thighs and legs, and snow-white wings. Her face was a brilliant orangey-yellow - a secretary bird. Trilling softly as she descended, she looked at Faelene with vacant and untrusting eyes, having looked into her bonded's mind, and felt the emotions that the sooty mare kept there. Turning her muzzle, Phae regarded the small creature for a moment, before turning her attention back to Faelene.

Her sooty features were serious now; her eyes calm and confident. She listened to Faelene's bored-sigh, and forced herself not to reply. If this mare had genuinely come into her forest, seeking the Grey, then she was forced to be accommodating. "I trust you understand that within this forest dwells The Grey, of which I know you know I am a member. Do you come here seeking us, Faelene?" She asked, politely and diplomatically. Surely this was a side of Phaedra Faelene wouldn't even have believed existed; most didn't. The sooty mare stood poised and polite, waiting to hear Faelene's response.

"Oh, you think my mouth is pretty? How sweet." Phae said, ignoring the venom that the dark mare's words were laced with. It was almost amusing to see Faelene still so bitter towards her; it was like watching someone try to win a game they had already lost. If Faelene had held her tongue that day in the Steppe - had left the words to fall between her and Tolio alone - they quite likely would never had met in the Grove; would never have had the ending that they did. In a way, their happiness was a direct result of Faelene's interfering. Idly, she wondered how the dark mare would feel knowing that she was the reason why she would bare Tolio's foal? Another time, perhaps Phae thought with amusement, as Faelene continued to speak, I do have matters I would like to talk to The Grey about if you think they'll see me I can wait here, as I prefer more of an audience in this request

With the same business-like rapport, Phaedra dipped her soft pink muzzle in acknowledgement. "An audience with all of us shall do you no good. Our orders come directly from our leaders, and from none other." She said, speaking clearly and without tone. "The Grey are open to hearing all requests and proposals, Faelene. If yours deals with Intelligence - information or healing - you should speak with Ophelia. If you require other services, it would be Ktulu." Patiently, she paused, looking at Faelene with…respect? Could it be that? "We often remain unseen in these woods. If you would tell me to whom you wish to palaver with, I will bring you to them."

Just as Phae finished outlining Faelene's options, the world began to spin. Clenching her teeth together, Phae tried to swallow the feeling of nausea which had suddenly lumped in her throat. She took a few steps to the side, bracing herself against a tree, to try and combat the sudden vertigo she felt. Her head dropped low, as she tried to lower her centre of gravity, so that she would not fall. A light sweat broke out across her deeply golden hide, and she began to breathe slightly faster. Morning sickness? Already? She wondered. Having never been pregnant before, she had no idea what the process was like. Startled, Stella leapt into the air, chattering with worry as she circled around Phae's leaning form.

Don't act like you know me, and I"ll do the same

Something about Faelene made Phae wish she was a fighter, for never in her life had she wished to harm someone physically as much as she wished to harm Faelene. All this fucking mare did was act like she knew about everything! The day on the Steppe, acting as though she knew Phae's intentions, and what was best for Tolio. And here now, the red-maned bitch was the only one making assumptions - about who Phae liked to stalk; other than that, Phae had simply provided politically correct answers to her query regarding the Grey.

Perhaps her sudden bought of fury was what caused her body to suddenly realize its discomfort regarding the life growing in her belly. The sooty mare cringed as Faelene took a tentative step closer. Please don't let something be wrong with the foal Phae pleaded silently, Not with Faelene here.. Staggering once again, Phae forced herself to take a deep breath, which she exhaled shakily. Was she dehydrated? Maybe...were pregnant mares supposed to drink more water...? What a mess. Craning her neck around, she inspected her heaving sides, half expecting to see blood pouring from between her thighs. But other than a light sheen covering her golden coat, she appeared to be fine. Self consciously, Phae covered her flanks with a tawny wing, hoping that Faelene wouldn't interpret the maternal gesture for what it was. Faelene didn't necessarily strike her as the maternal-type, however. "I'm not dehydrated. I'm...fine." She said finally, positive that as long as she didn't die on the red-mare, Faelene wouldn't care about her medical state.

As the world stopped spinning, Phae sighed, still leaning heavily against the tree. She clenched her teeth as Faelene's words sunk in - she should have waited to tell Kri the intel she knew! She could possibly have traded for their prisoners...Fuck. "Ktulu..." She said at last, her voice thoughtful and less out of breath. Ophelia had seemed...off, as of late. Even though stealing fell under Phi's division, technically, she could say that she needed Ktu's strategic council on how to proceed. Forcing herself to stand on her own, without the aid of the tree, she looked calmly at Faelene. "I can either update the Grey on the information you have provided and have Ktulu seek you out with a proposition, or I can bring you to her now. Which ever you please."

Amongst the fury she felt for Faelene, part of her desperately wished that things had gone much differently. If her foal turned out to be wingless, Tolio would surely keep it in the safety of the Basin, however racist that might be. As a high-ranking member, and a friend of Tolio's she could keep the foal safe. Suddenly, a look of horror and realization washed across her golden face. Turning her sea-green gaze to Faelene, her eyes widened with shock. If Tolio considered Faelene his sister that would mean...Aunt Faelene? Phae felt a new feeling, one that she was uncomfortable with, begin to take hold. The pegasus had always acted in her own best interested, but now she felt a new itch in her breast, begin to tug at her heart. The foal.. That itch seemed to sing, For the good of the foal..

"Faelene...I-" She began, breaking off almost immediately as she found herself unable to continue. The urge to tell Faelene that she was pregnant was almost overwhelming, though she couldn't say why. Something in her, told her that the red-mare needed to know. Surely she didn't know already...? Would she really be acting this cold to the mother of her would-be brother's foal? Then again, Phae wasn't exactly sure what sort of response she was expecting.

[OOC:I'm Assuming this would happen before the Faelene/Tolio thread since you haven't posted there yet. But if you want Tolio to be the one to tell her, she can just brush Phae off :P]

[OOC: Tried to steal Aure. Failed. :( ]

Please tell me you didn't hurt him more, or I swear…

The dark mare's words couldn't be farther from the truth - if they had, they might have stung the sooty pegasus, for now she truly understood what it meant to love someone, and what that entailed. She would die before seeing Tolio hurt, and her actions that day on the Steppe, while still justified in her mind, still caused a pang of regret and shame within her. But how to begin? If Faelene truly didn't know - hadn't spoken to Tolio - then likely she thought they were still at odds. Phae couldn't help the smile force its way into her lips. Ever since that night in the grove, the very thought of Tolio immediately filled her with butterflies and a sense of longing. Forcing herself reluctantly out of that memory, she focused her sea-green gaze on Faelene once again.

"No…Nothing like that. Actually…" The hint of a secretive smile appearing on her lips again, "I think he'll be overjoyed…" Blinking, she imagined his sweet cinnamon-y face when she would tell him the news - she imagined his giggle, him bouncing about as he did, his soft sweet smile…Of course, she wasn't thinking about all of the other implications of the foal that they would have - where it would grow up, whether their relationship would be allowed to continue given the racism of the Basin. "Faelene, I'm pregnant." She said finally, her voice joyful and excited. Other than Sohalia, Faelene was the only other Helovian who knew of the life growing in her belly - and while she didn't expect any warm congratulations, she couldn't help but feel airy and bubbly speaking the words out loud.

Sohalia had told her that she needed to make Tolio choose between Faelene and herself, but standing before the dark mare now, she wasn't so sure. The pain and inner torment it would cause the stallion outweighed her prideful resentment of Faelene. Besides, if the foal was a unicorn, it would stay in the Basin, would it not? And as a high-ranking member, Faelene could offer…a watchful eye, if nothing else. She would do that for Tolio, if not for Phaedra, wouldn't she? Or would she turn against the foal, and denounce Tolio as a traitor for being with a pegasus? Phae didn't think so - she was loyal to the unicorns, yes…but Phae believed that she truly did love Tolio as a brother, and would not abandon him in that way.

Looking up at the mare with a wary smile, she sighed. "Tolio doesn't know yet…We weren't…planning it or anything…" Phae chewed her lip, realizing she was talking merely for the sake of avoiding the larger issue; the issue of Phae and Faelene.

Phae didn't know Faelene well enough to read the looks which criss-crossed her dark features, although the red-maned mare was quite right to assume that indeed, Phae was betting that this knowledge would keep her safer.

Are we the only two souls who know for sure? Phae's delicate ears pricked forward as Faelene spoke, her lips twitching slightly out of slight guilt as she shook her head, a vague no. "A mare from the Throat...Sohalia...uh..a friend. She knows." The palomino stumbled over the words, still feeling uncertain in calling anyone a friend. But still, Sohalia had showed tremendous amounts of kindness to the pegasus, on multiple occasions. If that wasn't friendship, Phae didn't know what was. Then again, she also didn't believe she had earned Soh's friendship, either. Perhaps the mare was simply being nice...? I'm no good at relationships.. she thoughtfully concluded with a sigh.

"I was hoping to run into Tolio somewhere...It isn't as though I can go to the Basin looking for him..." Shrugging, she realized how absurd that sounded: a pregnant mare simply stalking through Helovia looking for one particular stallion. "Until I heard you in our forest, that is." Remembering that Phae had promised to take Faelene's plight to Ktulu, she sighed. Finding Tolio would have to wait. "I will speak to Ktulu.. If you see Tolio, would you tell him? Or...tell him to come to the Woods, to find me?" Phae realized how quickly she had gone from despising the red-mare, to suddenly asking for favors. Somehow in her mind, Tolio's involvement and his relationship with Faelene seemed to justify her request, but she wasn't entirely sure how it would be received.

Flicking her tail, and feeling much better after her small bought of sickness, she stood a little straighter, looking Faelene right in the eyes. "This foal... Tolio will want to be a part of its life, regardless of whether it is born with a horn or wings. He fears that if the Basin finds out of his offspring, that they will harm me. I don't know if he's intending to stay, or to leave...Either way, for now, please tell no one, save for him. " This was going far beyond a favor. This bordered on treason, for wouldn't Faelene owe some sort of duty to Psyche and the other Basin Unicorns, to notify them of Tolio's transgressions? "If you love him, please don't say a word."