you got easy eyes to hunt
and the world above needs your blood

Dock lifted her narrow, dished face and brought her wide blue eyes on to Black Heart Machine. The simple statement that the black mare had made – pointing out that Dock stood here alone – was something that rocked Dock’s very foundation. Never in her life did she think she could stand somewhere her sisters were not and never did she think she could have a conversation with another. Dickere always carried her words for her or Hickere simply spoke over her. But neither of them were here and Dock had done just fine. For the first time since she had crossed paths with Black Heart Machine the cremello mare found herself completely and totally relaxing. An ache was in her heart but it was more out of happiness at this strange and unexpected realization than anything.

The ache grew with intensity when Black Heart Machine offered her something beautiful – a place to escape and time. She wasn’t backing Dock into a corner, forcing her to make decisions that she didn’t want to make. “Th-thank you, Black Heart Machine.” She only stuttered for her surprise in how happy it made her. This was the first time she could remember feeling this way in weeks. She blinked and swallowed. “It means…” Was it silly that it meant so much to her? Dock couldn’t know for certain and had to say it anyways. “It means a lot to me.”

Dock lifted her eyes to the sky and knew she should probably leave this place and gather up her courage for the swim back to Luthien. She’d apologize to Dickere and hopefully, with memories of this encounter, things wouldn’t be so bad… She dropped her gaze to Black Heart Machine and gave an awkward, small smile. “Erm, I guess I should go back to Luthien then.” Her hooves shifted against the hard ground. “I…” She normally didn’t make promises like this. She normally didn’t [i]want[/i] to go or do anything on her own and yet… “I hope I find my way here again soon.”