Obscene had left the Pampas to attend Cheri's coronation.
Perhaps other Pampaiians had gone as well, because the Flower Court feels almost quiet. The palomino stands and stares across the colorful hills rolling on towards Loess, wondering if she should partake in the festivities as well. Her presence would be rather illuminating and Aela amuses herself with all the things she could do without even batting an eye: twisting emotions around so that they would break Cheri's regal exterior, angering Nashua until his face became thunderous with a dark rage, or if the old lecher was there, perhaps Ledger could use a reminder about the propriety of staring too long in public.
But these are all mild amusements, and with Skandar burning for blood, Aela feels a need for something... more.
The Gryffen flying overhead is a surprise, but it is also an answer. Having encountered and pitted herself against many magical creatures across Beqanna (and other realms), the imaginative one that lands before Aela is given little more than a curious tilt of her head. The horns and the molten red-orange eyes boring into her make the mystical beast recognizable to the Seneschal, and she purs out a greeting more suited to the Gryffen's feline half. "Mazikeen," Aela says, and moves to approach the other woman from the shoulder nearest her.
Aela had thought if Sickle's mother had come to the Pampas that she might try to play the concerned friend, to try and insinuate the steal had been Obscene's idea. But Mazikeen is quick with her mind - almost as cunning as herself - and would have seen through that rouse immediately. The gold-striped mare has been rather irritated with Obscene of late - first from their argument and then his recent treatment of Fyr - and so the scowl that storms across her face is genuine, even what she says next is not.
"There was talk of taking her to Taiga," Aela says, which is partially true (and with the Prince absent, it lends credit to her story). It had been one of the options considered when they first stole Sickle. She hadn't been entirely partial to the idea, but the chance that Gale could smite the mighty Redwoods for their insolence was a sacrifice Aela had been willing to make. "As a show of good faith to the North and all that," she continues.
They doused your soul in water,
but the flames raged higher.
And they called you devil's daughter,
such a pretty liar.
@Mazikeen