For a moment it had seemed that everything would go back to normal when Impa returned. Now, Mouse had thought, their herd would grow again. With the presence of a leader, mares would flock to the mountaintop. But it had not happened that way; Impa had not immediately taken up her old position, and the grulla saw the wisdom in this action and was not disappointed, though it meant that formulating their purpose and increasing their numbers was put on hold.

Truthfully, she was simply glad she was not just accompanied by strangers. Irvosat was kind, but somewhat distant. Osprey had taken a liking to her, and for that Mouse was glad. But familiar faces from her early months on the island would always lighten her mood, and as a result she had been light-hearted throughout autumn and into the winter.

The mustang had taken to surveying the crossing, often venturing down to wander amongst the masses, or else watching for disturbances from a point halfway down the mountain as she was now. Here, the cold was not so bitter as at the summit; her thickened coat kept her comfortable as she gazed at the islands inhabitants. The numbers seemed to be dwindling, more so than in other winters, but she had no doubt that more would return in time. When they did, she would be waiting with a keen eye to detect discord, and she would continue what she had started in the Lagoon with the roan mare. She had found a new purpose, and it was to remove women from undesirable situations. Her eyes closed as she heaved a sigh of contentment. For the moment, all was well, but she was ready for anything at this point.

Just after this crossed her mind, the call rang across the Peak. It was not instantly recognizable, but it carried a familiar tone and this drew Mouse’s gaze from the dark specks on the snowy field below her. Though she was still not entirely sure whose voice she had heard, the grulla pivoted and made her way up the snowy slope at a trot. Her body, once soft with idleness, was now solid again, and she easily kept her footing despite the surface on which she traveled.

As she came to a level area, she spotted a familiar painted form with her back turned. Tossing her head happily, she let out her own call and said the mare’s name. ”Skylar!”