Nothing stirred on the incline of the Peak, except perhaps the gentle creaking of the pines against the wind. Tautoru did not dare to stir either. Her quiet munching sat in eerie still against the endless white. It was enough that her ruddy coat was an eye-sore against the frostbitten landscape of the Vulcan empire. Though the matted blanket of snow she wore did give some aide in covering her up.

Suddenly the snow began to crunch and the little mare lifted her doe-eyes from her grazing. A large, dark horse moved slowly towards her. She too wore a blanket across her rump, though her’s was not a product of the season. At first glance it was impossible to miss how much taller the dark mare was than our tiny Tautoru. It startled her a little, to be honest. And as she shifted her feet, body stiffening and ears twitching with uncertainty on the mare’s approach, she prayed this one was not a calloused woman.

Fortunately, the mare was soft, much like Giselle had been. Extending her whiskered muzzle, Tautoru exhaled strongly, smoky billows of steam wafting from her nasals as she examined the spotted mare’s scent. Impazienza. Tautoru smiled politely, nodding quietly as the mare introduced herself, asking for a piece of the greens before lowering her head to nose at the snow beside the little island pony. “Of course,” her voice was still, quiet, choked up by the cold, still unsure of how to approach such an awkwardly warm situation.

Soon enough however, another would be crunching the snow. A golden mare, thin and elegant, she looked like summer incarnate. Her actions matched.

Tautoru rocked back on her haunches again, uncertain whether this one would snake out at her or join Impazienza in friendly chit-chat. Once again, the flaxen chestnut was surprised at the simplicity of this encounter. Both mares smiled sweetly, gave their names, treated her like she was a poor lost rabbit asking for directions at the welcome desk to a candy store. They embraced her. Oddly, though perhaps without sound reason, this was not what the star-child had been expecting. “H-hello” a shaky beginning, “It’s nice to meet you both...I am Tautoru,” another soft smile, ears relaxing, chubby skin no longer shivering. “Do either of you know Giselle? I met her eh-earlier in the Meadow I believe it was...” so much unfamiliar awkwardness. “I’m sorry, I’m just very new to all of this. She told me she lived here, at the Peak with the Vulcans and I--I guess I just didn’t know where else to go, at least until the weather warms.”

Truth, she didn’t even want to think about traversing the oceans again until the sun came out and the snow disappeared.