Ah, curiosity. Black Heart Machine had always looked upon the curious type with favor. Those who had the little voice inside their head that asked ‘why’ tended to be the types who were capable of doing more than their incurious counterparts. In Machine’s opinion, all great movements began with curiosity. It was the very notion of questioning an idea or concept that led to ways in which that idea could be improved. After all, if it weren’t for a curious mare and a mountain, this Peak would not have the reputation that it did today.

Flicking her dark tail casually, Machine admires the view from her post, glad that for now, all seemed calm and in order. She briefly wondered if she might hear from Lyden. Most stallions did not take kindly to her thieving ways, and she seemed to always hear about it at one point or another. Frankly, she found it rather amusing that these boys got so bent out of shape whenever she managed to sneak a mare away from them. It usually wasn’t anything personal, but the male ego was so easily ruffled—like the feathers of a persnickety cock. It was good for them to be challenged by a woman and lose; it built character, and Machine was much more likely to respect a stallion who accepted his losses with grace rather than fury.

When she saw Skylar coming up the mountain path, taking her time with her two young ones in tow, the Vulcan thinker smiles warmly. It was good to see that she managed to make her way back here without incident.

“Hello Skylar,” Machine says warmly. “It’s good to see you.”

She pauses, listening to Skylar’s inquiry regarding why the dark mare had chosen her. Machine closes her eyes and takes a breath, preparing her explanation.

“You said it yourself, this is your home. Don’t you think you should be entitled to all the benefits of residency within our herd?”

By this, Machine meant protection and a degree of freedom that a stallion could not match.

BLACK HEART MACHINE