The pace of Cassiopeia faded into a sigh as she scanned what was familiar to her, Andash caught this and reflected it back onto himself. He investigated the vast lands, the silhouettes of what appeared to be castles, the dark sky emulating the remnants of the near dead sun, which cast down reflections upon the oasis. The breeze, the cool feel of the rocks upon his sturdy lead daggers that were darkened further by the night's appearance. Nothing could subtract that refreshed feeling of the cool hair whipping gently across his handsome crown and sliding past his velvet pelt.

Andash understood that the heat of the rising sun in a few hours time would give him a better understanding of the terra firma he desired to call home, but he couldn't help but feel that even under the dark glow of the night sky, he was already home. Dipping his crown and shooting his ears forward in acknowledgement to the dainty dame's words, he nickered, "It is a truly astonishing place. Never have I come across such beauty and vastness."

The sound of trickling, soothing water rang like near silent bells, growing louder in his mind, reminding him of his thirst. Hesitant of the laws of the Dragon's Throat, he took a pace forward, thought better of it and replaced his daggers back to their initial position. He turned to Cassiopeia, his piercing azure gaze meeting her tranquil, soothing orbs. "May I drink? Water has been scarce on my journey across the lands." The light cool breeze whisked through strands of his thick mane, ruffling his ivory feathers and the feather that was nested in his tail. The darkening of the open sky danced and played with the small flashes of sapphire that clung to strands of his hair.

As Andash waited for a reply from Cassiopeia, the silhouette of a magnificent, brawny chief swooped down beside the duo. The affection immediately shared between the two familiars was notified by Andash; these were evidently lovers, he thought.

His attention then turned to the lord, his superior and general of the Throat's herd. He stood but a little shorter than Andash, and the charcoal pelt glistened discreetly in the night's light. The bleached tribal markings that be bore stood out against the pelt, his mane and tail quite a sight. Never had Andash come across such thick, wild hair. He was certainly an authoritive figure, and Andash understood why he had been given such an honoured rank.

As the dame spoke for him, Andash titled his crown in respect and acknowledgement to the General, attempting to close his wings in further in order of showing more respect. However, the wing that had caused him much sorrow in his life would not comply. To shake off the humilation, he merely ruffled his feathers and gave a grunt of dissatisfaction. Curse my wretched unblessings. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, General. And thank you, that would be most kind." He took one pace forward, dancing slightly on his daggers while his ashen pelt reflected what little light was in the sky.

"To be second is to be the first of the ones that lose."

As the trio paced the distance to the oasis, the General pointed out landmarks that scattered the terra firma. Andash quickly made a mental note of them all, knowing he would need them in the future. A warmth fell over him, feeling comforted and reassured by the sincerity and the honesty, as well as the effort made by the sir. It never occured to him that he would have been accepted and not discriminated by such superiors as Azzuen and Cassiopeia.

He stretched his tapered ashen neck to allow himself to drink, his handsome crown glowing. His pools of azure skirted the landscape every now and again to keep a watch as he welcomed the refreshing water. It lightened his spirits further, and refreshed his mind. His lead daggers felt the soft breeze fly grains of the desert sand against them; he noticed this barely as the cool air was welcomed by him. He replied to Azzuen, I believe that a creature can survive anywhere if he has the knowledge, and of course the means of using the resources that are already there, including water such as from the oasis." With a shake of his bleached, sapphire tinted mane, he added, "Thank you, Azzuen."

The ever changing orbs of Azzuen surprised Andash, as he hadn't come across such an ability before. Having noticed this, he noted it and drew his attention back to the water. Taking a few last gulps, he regained his proud posture and twisted round to courteously face the General. He listened to what his superior had to say.

Surprise overthrew Andash. I'm being asked such a duty? Pride swelled up inside him, as he detected the honesty in Azzuen's orbs. It was no mistaking, this was not a joke. He shook the sudden surprise from his crown, keen to accept such an offer. "I would be honoured to. It is a great thing for me to be asked. And yes, exploring and getting to know this area would be most helpful." He glanced over to the dame who had remained quiet during this time, then focused his attention back to his leader.

Andash watched the dame walk smoothly away out of the conversation, silently thanking her for giving him this opportunity to talk to her beloved, Azzuen. He turned his attention back onto the charcoal steed, and his heart leapt inside his silhouette at the thought of being ranked as a soldier.
"To be a soldier would be a great honour Azzuen, thank you.

An elated feeling swept over Andash as Azzuen judged him on what he could be capable of, not the weakness that his silhouette exhibited. He wondered whether he should simply class himself as an equine, since the term pegasus was not strictly true if he could not fly. The ashen brute was heavily glad that he had been accepted into a herd that was alight with the different variations of the equine: the horned; the winged; the equines. This way he could be able to prove he was worthy by matching himself with the standards of the other herd members without having to compare himself with another winged creature that would certainly wipe the floor with him when it came to flight.

The breeze gave little comfort to Andash, it simply played with strands of his bleached and sapphire silks, no respite to his pelt that was strained underneath the heat of the sun. He continued to listen to the charcoal beast, hanging on his every word to take in as much information as he could. A good memory, Andash stored in the information that he was being fed with.

Azzuen's stature and general facial expressions changed to a heartwarming, elated poise as he mentioned Cassiopeia and their daughter, Cirrus. It saddened Andash as well as it filled him with hope, he could only ever hope to know the feeling of falling that deep into affection with someone. One day. He was amused by the way he described of Cirrus being a bit of a handful. "That's the young ones for you, bless them."

As the charcoal brute's face grew serious as he expressed his feelings towards the hardships that Andash had faced in his past, Andash truly felt that he found comfort in him. Perhaps even friendship that went beyond the call of duty. He toggled his daggers over the ground to keep the blood circulation moving through his brawny pillars. "I am honoured to become a soldier, it is a duty that I wish to do to the best of my ability for the good of the herd. I am truly thankful for you Azzuen, it's not often that people look beyond the fault and actually think I am worthy of being a value to the herd," He continued after a slight pause, friendliness and acceptance towards the brute evident in his ice azure orbs. "I shall do as you bid, I understand that adding more members to the ranks is important, and it would definitely be a satisfying experience to meet more creatures that pass through the Threshold."

He dipped his handsome crown in understanding of the gathering that would be held soon for the soldiers, showing that he was keen on doing his duties right. "I will of course attend, and call for you or Kri if ever the time calls for it- I'm yet to meet our leader..." He decided within his own thoughts that he would attempt to get to know the leader, it was always useful to know the members of the herd.

The feeling of acceptance by the General was one that made Andash feel content with the homeland that he had acquired through the estimations and beliefs that the herd members of Dragon's Throat had bestowed upon him. For someone as high ranking, and as friendly, as the obsidian Azzuen to do the same was ultimately a great elation to the frosted beast. The gaze that settled on him from Azzuen was something he did not shrink in fear from, it betrayed the emotions of what he was feeling; it was a positive feeling.

He wondered about finding the mate that he desired, pondering over the chances of finding one that would appreciate him as much as he would appreciate the dame. "Perhaps in times to come, for I am hoping that I have many seasons of life," his azure orbs were vacant as the thought of not seeing the majority of his life through, by ways of war or illness took him - it frightened him to the core. He shook his crown to be rid of the idea, terrifying himself was not the wise thing to do. If I die, I die for the good of the herd.

As he listened to the charcoal brute, he wondered about what Cassiopeia had said of Helovia. He admitted that he was not brimming of information about his new homeland, and neither of the Gods that the inhabitants were all well aware of and worshipped. He thought back to his years as a youngling, there was only one god that his herd had worshipped, but for the life of him he couldn't recall what it was. He hadn't paid much attention to it, for the magic seemed to be non-existent in that land. But in this land, it was different. He could feel the magic of the Gods in the breeze. The unnatural heat of Tallsun must have had something to do with one of the Gods that ruled Helovia.
"I must be honest, I have no knowledge of Gods in Helovia," he added, "I was never that much inclined to worship the one that my herd of my youngest years did. I'm embarrassed to say that I don't even know what god it was..."

The ashen beast was struck by the words that rang slowly from the General. His expression was unreadable, he wondered what it was he should say. Or more, what he thought was the correct thing to say. "If there was ever anything that gave me the power of flight, I would carry out any quest."

He agreed. Living life prosperous and with love that was short compared to having nothing whilst living long; he would choose the shorter life. Love was the greatest power alongside the gods that could determine lives, as well as war, but that was never a positive thing. His mind wandered toa future with a mate, and the content it would bring him. His kissers revealed a small smile, feeling warmed to the core by this. He brought himself back to earth, concentrating on Azzuen. The charcoal steed was still relaxed and friendly towards Andash, and it actually made the ashen feel like had really gained a friend in the General. He had pondered on the idea before, but now that they were settling into easy conversation that was friendly and understanding towards each other, he truly believed it now.

"I couldn't agree more, and I will be more than glad to see this theory proved for myself." His orbs glowed with the prospect, and a light breeze played gently with his ashen and sapphire silks before handing them back to Andash.

The talk of gods was one that interested the alabaster brute greatly. He knew that they did exist, usually more active in certain lands. In his old homeland they were not part of his life for they didn't have a great hold over anything, except for the herd members that worshipped them without question. They had never performed anything, good or bad, that caused Andash to think the same. But here in Helovia it was different. The brief descriptions that the General was giving to the brute about the gods helped him have some idea of the way they worked. The talk of this Ktulu, who had been basically cured by one of the Gods gave him hope. Will I be normal? The idea of completing a quest in exchange for a pair of magnificent wings was like music to his ears.
"It certainly is fascinating, and I too hope to quest under the Gods for wings. Then perhaps we may fly in the heavens together and patrol the borders of Throat." He suggested this with light humour to Azzuen, keeping the conversation a little less serious than was perhaps intended. But he could not keep himself down about such things. If there was ever a chance, he would keep a positive outlook on it nonetheless.