Jasiri's head drooped slightly at the news. It was foolish to think she would find Nuru at the first island she visited, but she couldn't keep her hopes from rising. The behemoth quickly moved the conversation along, and the silver mare was glad for the distraction from the bad news and the overpowering sense of bad luck leaking from his territory. She lifted her head back up and kept her eyes glued to the white stripe oh his face.

"I am Jasiri," she wanted a reason to say his name aloud, but she kept her lips sealed before she could test how it rolled off her tongue. She had already made a fool of herself; perhaps it would be better to conceal how attracted she was to the large draft before she lost his interest. "I'm glad to see you too," she couldn't help but confess. "I've made my home in the Inlet. If you ever have reason to leave your home, please do stop by for a visit." The words rolled awkwardly out as her eyes began to stray back to the dangerous mountains.

The draft quickly snapped her eyes back to his face and suppressed a shudder trying to pass through her body.

She tried to focus on how his voice had sounded and felt, realizing it was the only thing that kept her distracted enough. "Have you lived here long?" she asked, hoping the question would elicit a lengthy response from him. She dared to flick both ears towards him. She had a feeling she would have to visit this territory again someday, and perhaps even enter it. It would be best to control her fear while she didn't have any reason to move past the beach.