The queenly gold followed the dragon-horse with relative ease, the contraption carrying the stones was odd and a bit cumbersome, but she was also a strong dragon and managed well enough in completing her promise to the steed. Mirage remained at the entrance to the Vein, her golden eyes watching as the figures crept away from her, her mind within Akaith’s always – a touch of concern marred her otherwise clear façade.

The dragon unloaded her cargo, and watched as the Sun God made his usual abrupt appearance, and began working almost immediately. With some shock the dragon watched as Vikram’s jaws were forced open and the lava stones were shoved unceremoniously down his oesophagus, and she could see the effects the excruciating process would be having upon the bronze steed. Without even thinking the gold’s mind extended to him, grasping a hold of his consciousness, steering it towards her own; towards Mirage’s.

Focus on us. We are here. Think of nothing else.

The chant was repeated by the femme’s, as they struggled to hold onto Vikram’s attention. The power of the mind was an enormous entity, and only the fact that their friendship had grown quite close recently was this even possible to achieve by the capable golden one. The queen was ancient among her own kind, she knew the ways in which telepathy could be used, though she only exercised its capabilities with Mirage more often, and then outreached to those she cared about when she deemed it a necessary action. This certainly was one of those times that called for such necessities.

Vikram! Stay with us. Come down the Veins, Vikram. Come to me.

The mare was frantic at the base, but she dare not enter the sacred lands when she knew that the Sun God still walked at the ridge. Her melodic song rang out, hoping to appeal to the dragon-steed’s ears just as Akaith’s mental song constantly thrummed within his crown.

Come.

The God's words were scarce warnings for what he was about to experience. A soft murmur about pain, and then strange magic wrenched the hybrid's jaws open and held them that way while the scales and stones he'd brought here were crammed into his mouth and down his throat.

Shock held the mighty steed motionless at first, golden eyes going wide with alarm before the pain began to register. It was an intense pain, encompassing. But then a warm presence wrapped itself around his mind, and his gaze veered unerringly toward Akaith, sitting nearby and gazing back at him with concern. Dazedly he realized he could sense Mirage within this presence, could hear their voices penetrating the fog of pain that threatened to drag him under.

Gratefully he latched onto them, inadvertantly distancing his consciousness from the experience his body was going through. Grasping at their words instead during the span of time that seemed to last forever yet was only a minute before the element of the pain altered. Until he could feel the changes that had been wrought to his body, and the magic let him go.

Tentatively Vikram reclaimed control of his body, staggering as joints that had locked against the pain came loose, gasping raggedly against the burning pain that lanced down his throat still. But he could hear Mirage still, wasn't sure how much was through Akaith and how much was in his own ears, but he listened to her, obeyed the summons that rang through him.

Slowly, gingerly, he turned and walked back down the path, mind fogged by pain but ringing with the voices of Akaith and Mirage. They goaded him on when he might have otherwise fled into unconsciousness to avoid the pain, until he glimpsed the dark mare at the path's end. Gamely he gathered his strength and picked up from a slow walk into a stilting trot, wings flaring reflexively to maintain his balance. Reaching her he staggered to a halt once more, head and wings drooping from exhaustion, but relieved to be amongst friends again.

"Mirage... Akaith... water?" His voice had faded to a whisper, fighting against the pain in his throat. Yet he managed to invoke gratitude with their names, before ending with a querying plea. Water, shelter, and company were what he wished for most.