The sound of hooves clattering quietly against loose stones announced the approach of another creature behind her. Reluctantly she tore her gaze away from the magnificent drop below her and turned around to face her visitor. Valencia felt more comfortable with her back to certain death than whatever unknown was headed her way.

The animal that rounded the corner, however, was not what she had expected. A bony grey mare appeared, her physique old and weak looking, her eyes milky and sightless, despite the strange, eerie ease she seemed to move with. Her long hair, as tangled as Valencia’s own, was littered with dust and strange, unidentifiable fragments. There was no way to call anything about the stranger’s appearance beautiful, but the way she moved and her dishevelled appearance hinted at a certain past regality or glory—one that may or may not still exist, hidden beneath the protruding ribs and blind eyes.

She did not catch the first mumbled words that the creature spoke, but it was evident that she had either heard or smelt Valencia’s presence, and she wound her way towards her with unnerving accuracy. Valencia was not scared of her—she had never had much of sense of self-preservation when there were more interesting things at hand—but she was most intrigued by her strange appearance and even stranger words.

She stiffened ever so slightly as the mare sniffed at her and reached out at her with her teeth. She disliked physical closeness or contact with anyone she didn’t know well, but even if she had had anywhere to go without barging the mare, Valencia would not have backed away. This stranger reminded her of her encounter with Bandersnatch, who had also smothered her personal space, and she knew that to back down was to give them the impression that she was threatened or an easy target.

That was not the case.

Valencia had no idea who this mare was, or who ‘he’ was, and though she was practically bursting with questions she restrained herself so that when she spoke, answering immediately and without hesitation, her voice was cool, calm and even.

“Is that a compliment?” she asked, tilting her head slightly even though the other mare wouldn’t be able to see it.

tell me your secrets and ask me your questions