The behavior that drew new mares to the Peak was always of interest to Black Heart Machine. It was most commonly curiosity that brought them here—most of them had heard whispers in the wind of a herd of only mares and they all wanted to see that for themselves, as if the idea was so inherently implausible that it had to be seen to be believed. While the dark mare was always glad for the possibility of another champion of the Vulcan cause, she often wondered where these whispers of the ‘mysterious herd of mares’ came from.

It was high time that her and her sisters began controlling these rumors. They needed to travel to the islands and meet the inhabitants themselves—to trek through the Crossing and be the architects of these whispers. Then perhaps the women who came here would be more dedicated because they already knew what to expect.

Black Heart Machine was standing in her usual spot—a short distance from the summit of the Peak when she spotted the dunalino girl making the trek upwards, a look of high expectations upon her young face.

“Well hello,” Machine began, surprised that the newcomer was determined enough to make nearly the entire trip up the mountain. It typically took new mares at least a day to reach the summit, as hiking up the incline took certain muscles that typically went unused.

“What were you hoping to find all the way up here?”

BLACK HEART MACHINE