Now she was alone with the fillies, Mouse forced herself to relax her tense muscles. It was something she was becoming better at, relaxing herself after stressful situations. However, she still maintained a certain level of anxiety during and after social situations. In time, she would once again achieve a state of comfort while dealing with groups as she had when she was alone with her friends, but for now she was left to deal with near paralysis such as she’d had in the moments after speaking to Skraeling. The presence of Skylar and Osprey helped, though, and as the painted grulla toddled back over to her side she looked upon her with happiness. It seemed that having a child was actually good for her, something she had not considered throughout her pregnancy.

Skylar spoke just before Osprey reached her side again. The newborn collapsed, exhausted and full from her meal, into a deep sleep at Mouse’s feet. Left with nowhere else for her attention to go, the mustang paid close attention to her other painted companion. She shook her head when Skylar mentioned perhaps pestering her. “Intrude? My days here are typically filled with silence. It is beautiful here, yes, but company is welcome.”

Pausing, she considered how to answer the second statement the girl had uttered. Impa was friendly, but Mouse worried what she had been up to with Styrke. The draft’s departing words had been rather ominous. Of the others she had seen wandering around, Mouse only knew Anath. They had yet to meet with each other after the large group meeting, but Impa had spoken well of the general. As for Giselle and Shira, they seemed to have disappeared completely. Smiling again, she responded as best she could. “It seems that a few women come and go, but so far I have been treated well, and I am sure they will similarly accept you. As I told Skraeling, no one who wants to live with us is turned away.” Though she could have continued, she simply glanced down at her sleeping infant for the moment and quietly waited for Skylar’s response.