The relief on Helios’ handsome face is obvious. Despite the lines of worry and pain that crease his velveteen lips and furrow his copper brow, the Arabian stallion relaxes. At least for the breath of a second. Confusion flashes behind his mahogany gaze, as though the Dunes monarch expected her to turn him and his herd away with the flick of her wrist now that his use had taken a noticeable hit.

A single brow of her own rises in response, waiting for the questions to rise from his lips. Questions that never come.

Instead, perhaps wisely, Helios focuses on their trek to the watering hole. From her peripheral vision, Nyimara notes the flick of his fluted ear as her proposition breaks the silence. As expected, the stallion nods his agreement, and again the warmth blooms in her breast. Even if those she trusted and cared for the most seemed always to abandon her for their wandering eyes elsewhere, Helios was proving to be quite the reliable companion.

The warmth of his lips against her shoulder caused her steps to falter. He stills beside he,r and she stops, small fluted lobes pricked forward amid the tumble of her silvery-white forelock. Lithe limbs pivot as she shifts her hips to face him fully, her near-black eyes blinking behind the veil of her long lashes.

The concern in his voice is touching, drawing a true smile to her ashen labrums. That is perhaps the first time in her life since Shenzi that anyone bothered to concern themselves with her welfare. The first time anyone saw past the glittering crown on her brow or the power that radiated from her ethereal appearance. She would be lying if she said that there was not a fluttering of affection that begins to twine about her heart at Helios’ touching concern.

The smile on her lips shifts subtly. Near-black eyes glitter in the golden sunlight as the silver-haired minx chuffs softly and stretches her glossy neck toward him to allow ivories to tug at a straying strand of his golden mane. ”Your concern for me is touching Helios;” she begins, pausing a moment to withdraw that touch if only to deter the sudden rising affections in her own mind and body. Absently, she gives her head a toss, riding her visionfield of the alabaster forelock. ”I have fought and won my wars just as easily as I have lost them. Each has given me insight into my enemies and kept my name at the forefront of their minds. I see no reason this rogue should be any different.” she purrs, starting forward again with a flick of her unusually long tail. However, Helios’ warning does give her more to ponder on. It is not often that she has come across someone who instills such fear into others. Not outside of the old wolf and his bones have long since disappeared beneath the sea of sands. Perhaps sooner rather than later, she would satisfy that rising itch of curiosity.