breaking the pure wings of our angels. [ Powerplaying Ampere's retreat with Blu's permission. ]

Icy eyes fixed upon the pup. Tail wagging, but with no glance for its benefactor, it devoured the lemming whole, and Irma would've snorted in disdain had she been a horse. So much for gratitude, but then again, it was not out of compassion she'd given her meal up. She did not need the scrawny thing's thanks — his bond mate surely knew who it had come from. There weren't enough snowy owls around who kept an eye on the business of the horses. Satisfying herself with this she let her gaze slide to the Pegasus, watching her every move, her expressions so vivid, nothing at all like the closed book that was Mauja's body. Many of the Basin unicorns wore iron masks, to see someone so obviously awed was, to say the least, amusing. The sadly mistaken notion that Irma would be controlled by anyone was less so, and her already cold eyes cooled further. The only good thing that would come out of this now was that bloody horse's pain for her insolence.

In the back of her mind, Mauja grinned in amusement, and she shoved him out unceremoniously, haunted by the lingering traces of his mirth.

Crowley, however, claimed to control her, and for a moment she considered doing something nasty to him just to prove a point, but even in her state of marginal fury she was not entirely stupid. It dawned on her as he advanced what he was trying to do, and if it meant she — and Mauja — could get away with something.. why not? The Pegasus already seemed to hesitate, thinking that perhaps it was better to leave, and Irma reached out with mind and soul, drenching the bird-horse's heart in darkness, the merest hints of her deepest fears to play upon her mind, like a prophecy of what was to come if she stayed... Throwing out her blue-and-black wings the mare left, taking to the skies, and Irma remained upon her rock, looking quite smug. That had been satisfying.

- - - - - -

Meanwhile, Mauja had paused beyond the dip of the hill, not wanting to blow Crowley's little game as he clearly had the situation in hand. Once he saw the speck of black and blue disappear in the sky, barreling south out of the Basin, he moved, cresting the snow-dusted hill and flicking his tail. It seemed he'd made his way over here for nothing, and for a moment his eyes slid past Crowley's brindle form and to the spot of snow where the mare had stood. Then, he shrugged, and moved up next to the Weaver. He'd never spent time alone with him, but knew him to be devoted, and loyal to Psyche, as she had recruited him. It was under her rule he had been raised to his current position, and while he didn't seem put off by this white shade coming from the past to rise above.. Mauja did not know where he stood, who he was.

"Seems like I wasn't needed," he said wryly, glancing over at the smug-looking owl. She was quite pleased with having found a time and place to play tricks on someone. His gaze roved away, south, where Ampere had disappeared. "I wonder what stories she'll spin now, of the striped ruler of animals residing in the north..." A huff, something halfway between a laugh and a snort of disdain, escaped him. "I hope they'll stay away, rather than investigate. Trespassers and tourists get on my nerves." And he scowled at the mountain pass. Could they get Ulrik to set up a unicorn-only gate on it? That'd protect them from most ground invasions, too.. and climbing in over the range would be an arduous task, and draining for an army. A grim half-smile curled his lips. Maybe he should ask the Engineer if it was possible.