Seasons had shifted and autumn was starting to spread over the mountains. The few trees that clung to the mountain’s face were starting to turn their colors. Amber and red started to take its place amongst the still blazing green. Taika admired them from the foothills of the mountain, the wind playing lightly with her mane. Normally she would have been poking around the trails that led into the cliffs, looking for the brightest trees, finding the paths few had followed. Instead she had taken to lingering in the more rolling, less treacherous, parts of the mountains. Ever since her friend, Amica, had come to the lands she had stayed by the mare’s side. Almost with more loyalty than she had to her own mother. Taytim, too, had come and gone from the hills. She knew her daughter got restless and needed to be free. There had been times Taika had taken off on her own. Others she had carefully taken her friend into the mountains to places where twists and turns were easy to navigate, but the wind shifted strangely or the sounds echoed uniquely against the cliff faces. They were interesting places the young woman had found, trying to look at the world through a different set of eyes. Imagining what stories the world could tell someone through their different senses.

During the times Taika had wandered away, Taytim had stayed nearby. She enjoyed the feeling of being around someone, being in a herd. Whenever they spoke she would speak of light things, never prying too far into the other mare’s life or business unless Amica chose to surrender the information. It was a pleasant companionship that the mare offered.

Today the wind shifted, bringing a different scent on the autumn breeze. Both mother and daughter lifted their heads in surprise at the heavy musk the lingered with the crisp autumn air. They smiled at each other when the recognized the smell. Pagan had been coming around the border of the Peak. The stallion was always careful to keep a respectful distance, though that had not stopped the spirited young Taika from flocking to him, prancing around, and claiming resolutely that Amica was in a different part of the mountains. Neither mare knew if their new companion had known the stallion had been visiting, but today they gently nudged her, their energy and spirits palpably high. I think someone is here to see you! The younger of the women said, her high voice excited.