inka

She watched quietly as Skylar cleared a small area of snow for herself and her daughters to lay upon, though her tongue ached to voice her dissent. She could remember growing up in the arch, where there was snow on the ground 70% of the time; there, no matter how cold it got, and no matter how weary they had been, her father had been adamant that she never lay down in the snow. On the ground, you were at the mercy of the elements; the cold would sap you of what remaining strength you had, and before you knew it you were too weak to rise again. It was only because they were not on Tinuvel that Inka remained silent. Though she was not familiar with the peak’s climate, so far it seemed milder here than back in her tundra homeland, and besides, Skylar had just birthed two children. She deserved a good rest.

Nonetheless, Inka knew then that she would not leave this trio until she was certain they would be all right.

Part of her felt silly for standing when Skylar and her daughters were reclined so comfortably, but her revulsion for laying on the cold ground was so strong that she remained standing anyway. Hoping Skylar would not take offense, she dropped her head into a more relaxed position and cocked one feathered hind hoof. The sun was beginning to dip low on the horizon and was already partially swallowed by the mountainside, casting weak rays of light through the trees and leaving them more or less in complete shade. Along with the melodic babbling of the little stream, Inka suddenly felt very relaxed in her surroundings. Looking back into the golden eyes of her acquaintance and seeing a smile brighten them, she felt a little more hopeful that everything would be all right.

She mused for a short time over Skylar’s words before speaking. “I’m not sure I’m much of a fighter, but I’ll think about it. Do I need to speak with someone to make my rank official? Is there a leader of some sorts? And, I can’t help but ask... is it true there are no men allowed here?”

thirteen – 17hh – friesian