[ OOC: I suppose Psyche is standing there all stoic and beautiful until Rayo can join up. x3 Also, if anyone able to offer to teach Iosui in the arts of stealth could pop in that would be lovely, as she is interested in work as a spy. <3 ]

The journey back to the Basin had been filled with gentle chatter back and forth between the women, the two senior Helovian's giving what tidbits they could to Iosui as they passed important markers or difficult stretches up the path to the narrow entryway into the valley of the unicorns. The darkness made some things useless to point out, the veil of shadow disguising what would normally be easily seen from the path, but Illynx had taken pause at every crossroads on the lit trails of Helovia to inform Iosui what lie at the end of each, should she decide to venture out of the safety of the herd land in these times of midnight peril. It was with utmost pride, however, that the corporal turned about just before entering through the cleft in the mountain that would reveal the Basin in all it's glory, her head held proud and her golden eyes glowing as she allowed for a dramatic pause before walking in.

She took about fifteen paces, enough to allow the full sight of the Basin to impact Iosui at once, the chocolate and gold mare quickly turning about to observe the reaction that would come from the white girl; with the moon back in the place, the light that poured from the mouth of the Haruspex cave was elegant and near ethereal, mimicking the pale glimmer of the star strewn sky and casting rippling waves of light across the slow moving surface of the lake. The grasses about it's rim had dried and mostly been consumed, but nearer to the hot springs it still flourished in the unusual, misty heat of the waters, the plumes of steam rising from their yawning mouths stretching up into the sky, nearly as tall as the peaks encompassing the Basin. Illynx's much beloved cave could be seen to the right, along the wall of stone just before the springs, it's emerald moss cover providing an illusion that nothing was there at all, and she gave it a brief glance and hoped that before too long, she would be nestled up in it's damp darkness, dreaming away the events of the day.

"Isn't it beautiful?" she asked, her awe and the sincerity of her question evident in the tone of her voice, the corporal smiling faintly at the newest member of their secret society.

@[Iosui], @[Psyche]

[OOC | Stoic and beautiful, not so much. xD Sorry for the delay, and the disappearance in the Threshold. X.x]

It was quite the path from the Threshold to the Basin, an unmarked road that the shadow-mare had walked many times. Further, this would not prove to be her last time, seeing as how she had resolved to bring more members into her little band. Not so little anymore, though, she reminded herself proudly. The Basin had grown to encompass about fifty individuals; a larger herd could not be found in all the land. Still, it would do her little good until she had the majority of them following her beliefs, for she could hardly lead an attack on the hornless with as many neutral and equalist parties as had seemed to congregate in her homeland.

For not the first time, she wondered if she would have been as successful if she had driven away those who did not follow her ways; for the hundredth time, she came to the unfortunate conclusion that if she had turned any away, she would not be standing her beside her corporal, leading a new lass home. Ah, but such was the way of the world: we all must bear our sufferings with the knowledge that one day, a better world will come of it.

Illynx was the first through the pass, with Iosui behind her. The Lady of the Basin brought up the rear. The snow and wind did not buffet them as much once they had entered the embrace of the mountains, and as they made their way down the narrow road, it became almost warm in comparison to the chills they had experienced on their way. ”Isn’t it beautiful?” the shadow-mare heard; and then moments later, her own amber gaze was fixed on the valley that was her home. Beautiful, indeed. It was stunning. ”Welcome home, darling,” she added, sharing her corporal’s smile.

@[tag]
"Talk talk talk."