It felt good to have Impa home again; almost as if she had never left. Yet she had, and others were gone as well. The numbers were down, and often Mouse wondered what would become of them. It had been particularly lonesome until Irvosat’s arrival. Still, for the moment she could push her concerns to the back of her mind while they continued their conversation.

Mouse smiled again as Impa mentioned getting to know Osprey. The tobiano filly was a source of pride for the little mare; she had turned out very well, and though she resembled her father in many ways she possessed a goodness he might never know. “I saw her just before you came; I think she’d like to meet you, too. But be careful, she might talk your ears off,” she said with a good-natured laugh. “I’m not sure if she knows what she wants to do, but if she wishes to go I won’t stop her.” Her mind then wandered to the bay colt in the Common, the one who had spent a very short time on the mountain. Osprey seemed to get along well with him, and even mentioned perhaps following him when he left. However, there was something she found troubling about the boy…perhaps she’d mention it to Impa at a later time.

The low tone she was next met with caught her by surprise, and she found she could say nothing. Instead, she hoped that her smile and grateful gaze expressed how much the words meant. The statement was something that Mouse, being so small in comparison to her friend, could likely never reciprocate. But she would try, if the occasion ever arose.

She was relieved when Impa’s tone became lighter; emotions were never the mustang’s strong suit. They seemed to draw up memories that she had, at this point, kept locked away for too long. None had come to her recently, though she could not expect the trend to continue.

This time, Impa’s statement caused her no discomfort. Though Mouse still doubted that Styrke had been completely malevolent, he’d had no right to treat her as he had. In fact, under different circumstances she might have consented had he actually asked. Mouse had enough resentment within her, however, to agree now that Impa had a point. She playfully grazed Impa’s shoulder with her teeth as it made contact with her, and when she spoke her tone was just as lively. “I don’t know how useful I’ll be at walloping, but I’ll help however I can.” There was a brief pause as she considered her strengths. Perhaps it had been pure luck that the lagoon man had been distracted, but a steal was a steal, and still worth mention. Anyway, it had given her a sense of satisfaction and purpose that she had not felt in months. “I did take a mare from the Lagoon before you came back…I could always make a habit of it.” Her face broke into a sly grin, the likes of which had not appeared on her face since before she lost her memory.