she was born and taught to roar.
Although she had yet to reside in Paradise for any impressive length of time, Leopard had the inkling that visitors to the island of Atlantis were few and far between. Most newcomers remained in the Commons until whisked away or given directions to a specific island of their choice, and those who knew the whereabouts of the Lost Islands didn’t generally venture to the ones upon which they did not live unless they had a specific reason to do so. And by the look on the Akhal-Teke’s fierce face, she had business in Paradise that she needed attending to -- Leopard could only hope that she would be the proper person to answer any questions that may arise.
Lowering her head slightly in respect and acknowledgment of the mare’s introduction, just as her mother had taught her during her childhood, the buckskin mare returns the favor: “I am Leopard. It’s nice to meet you, Black Heart Machine. You’ve traveled far.” Her amber eyes search those of her newest acquaintance during the brief pause in conversation. Leopard had heard of the Peak and its residents -- both positive and negative, as is to be expected. “What brings you all the way out to Atlantis?”
She watches the mare inquisitively and with innocent interest, ears fluttering this way and that habitually. She had learned swiftly that one could never be too careful, even within your own home. Within the first week of Rhaego’s usurpation of Paradise’s throne, he’d had to fend off Dogun, Ceowulf, and Psychedelic from stealing her away in the night. She’d grown to appreciate the stallion whose coat matched hers, if mostly because he had not shoved her aside to fight off the offending intruders, but had fully allowed her her own part in the quarrel. It was refreshing, really, to meet someone who was unlike her father -- which makes her more curious as to Black Heart Machine’s decision to visit Paradise. As far as Leopard was aware, Rhaego had proven himself a decent equine (and, let’s be honest, she had the upper hand in their relationship, anyway). “I hear the Peak makes a fearsome enemy and a strong ally.”
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