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Raphael was deep in his own reflections by the time Sparkles had finished eating, but he wasn't so far gone that he missed the obvious signs that she was ready to take off again. He'd have to have been both blind and deaf to miss the stretching, the sighing, and the purposeful stride right past him...and dense to miss the lack of comment as she started off. He wasn't sure if it was a deliberate point she was trying to make, a natural result of being full, or merely a silent commentary on what she thought of his conversation skills. Either way, he wasn't going to make an issue out of it; his thoughts were enough to keep him company for now, he wasn't going to try and force communication from her.

So while he started out after her with a deliberate stride of his own, he remained silent as well, thinking about what he would do in the even that it WAS Elizabeth, in the event that it WASN'T Elizabeth, what he would do if he ran into trouble, and what he would need to do after this was all over.

What he remained unaware of, whether for better or worse, was Sparkles' plan for getting him his introduction. Somehow, a cross-mountain bellow had never crossed his mind, and likely never would. Well, there was a first time for everything...

Good lord, what was she doing??

Raphael might have made up his mind to be accommodating and respectful to Sparkles, but it was one thing to have a thought and another thing entirely to be presented with a yell loud enough to shake the trees! Eyes wide with shock, he regarded Sparkles as though she were a madwoman for a long few moments. "Well...that's certainly a direct way to get someone's attention, isn't it?" His voice was a bit weak, but considering the circumstances he was pretty pleased he'd managed that much. Imagine, yelling a greeting into a land where you liable to be attacked upon entry! Though perhaps that warning was the best way to prevent them from being attacked?

Well, at any rate, the end result ought to justify the means? "Thank you, Sparkles."

One thing that Raphael could say about Sparkles: she certainly knew how to get her point across. Her response was straightforward and to the point, although accompanied by a comparison so odd that he didn't know how to respond and just kept his mouth shut. Burning down the forest seemed like an incredibly excessive way to get someone's attention, and he half-suspected that she was just messing with him by offering that as a a possibility. After all, it would be a highly dangerous and careless thing to do, to say nothing of destructive and wasteful. How many creatures lived in the forest, after all, and how many more used it as a resource of some kind?

So he stayed silent, listening to the echo and waiting for the...sentry?

He hadn't been expecting a magpie. Hadn't been expecting a familiar at all, actually, but in retrospect it made a great deal of sense. After all, magpies and other bird familiars combined small size with speed, mobility, and the power of Speech; it was a quite practical arrangement, in that respect. He'd likely been expecting a large, burly Soquili on the basis of Sparkles' story!

By the time Sparkles had referred the bird to him, he was composed and ready with his questions, giving the magpie a courteous bow and a pleasant "Good day" before launching into his questions. This could be the moment of truth...

"Yes, I was curious if you have seen a tan unicorn mare with a curly light brown mane and tail in these parts at all recently; her name is Elizabeth Swann, and she would be slightly on the smaller side and be wearing a pearl necklace." Hardly the most dramatic of descriptions, and unfortunately not the most unique based on appearance alone; still, there weren't many that sported Elizabeth's neckwear, so one never knew!

The question was, what answer was he looking for?

Raphael had never been a dedicated observer of body language or expression, but even if he'd been half-blind he would have had to take note of the dramatic arching of the magpie's eyebrow (an idiosyncratic trait, indeed, that he'd never been aware that birds possessed!). In his experience, that typically meant some sort of surprise or disbelief, and in the context of the current conversation he could only take it to mean surprise at a coincidence...a fact that was almost immediately borne out by the magpie's admission.

Well then, color him surprised. He hadn't expected it originally when Sparkles had told him of the rumor that a mare matching Elizabeth's name had come to the slopes as the lifemate of one of the residents, but in the time that had since passed he had had time to process the idea to the point that his reaction to the magpie was a mere nod, rather than the round eyed, opened mouth look of astonishment Sparkles had gotten. He had had time to adjust, confirmation was merely a slight mental jostle rather than an unexpected slap.

So Elizabeth was mated, then, and had moved away without a word! It was so strange and very unlike her to do such a thing (or any of the three things) that Raphael was glad that he was the one who had found her, and that it was he alone. Undoubtedly his father would be surprised and concerned both, whereas Raphael himself...

Well, he was both as well, if he were being honest, but he had always held his godmother in the highest of respect. Whatever was going on, he was sure she had her reasons, and she would certainly share them when he saw her! And see her, he would certainly be doing.

Looking squarely at the magpie, he answered her question with an equally straightforward reply. "Elizabeth is a dear friend of my family, and we have been concerned for her welfare, as she rather precipitously vanished from her home of many, many years. I have been looking for her so that I might make sure she is safe and well, and while I am glad to hear that she is here, I would very much like to see her, if you would be so kind as to either take or direct me to her."

While the scout's confirmation with regards to Elizabeth's continued good health was reassuring, Raphael hadn't come this far to merely take someone else's word of mouth as the facts and return home. To be sure, he had no reason to distrust the magpie and, being the trusting soul he was, did believe her to be entirely truthful; however, he would have to actually chat with the mare himself, hear and see with his own ears and eyes, before being completely satisfied. That in mind, it was extremely pleasing that the scout was so accommodating as to indicate where he needed to go...although a little bit surprising and disconcerting at the same time to find his destination so close! For a moment, he wondered if Sparkles had been aware of that fact, but quickly dismissed the thought as uncharitable.

Instead, he gave the magpie another slight bow. "I appreciate the information and the directions; I would very much like to call on her, though. As a stranger, will I require an escort, or would it be permissible for me to proceed on my own? You have both been very kind and helpful," This as he turned to include Sparkles in the conversation, "But if it would be acceptable, I'd like to speak to Elizabeth alone."

Well, at least without an additional audience; for all he knew, if Elizabeth was there then her mate might be there as well! Obviously if such was the case, he would have an excellent opportunity to meet the fellow, if not...well, if not he'd be able to speak to Lizzy herself, and that was what he was really in need of!

And so it was settled. With great cordiality, Raphael bowed first to Sparkles, giving her a lower and more formal bow. "I am very appreciative of your assistance, Sparkles; hopefully if we are to meet again, it will be with a more pleasant beginning."

Having settled on that score, he turned and bowed as well to the magpie. "My great appreciation for your assistance, Magpie; I assure you that I shall be on my best behavior for the duration of my visit, and be sure to see myself out the way that I've come." That addressed, he swept back his braids, nodded to the magpie, and started purposefully off towards the outcropping.