Gnome’s oddly colored eyes were still trained upward when a snort caught his attention. He lowered his gaze to see a dark stallion with a pale mane and tail headed in his direction. He noted that the other held his head high – this must be Rougaru. Rather than cower beneath the prideful stance, Gnome met this stallion’s gaze evenly. He did not mean to challenge; he merely aimed to convey that he expected civility. In return, Rougaru would earn his respect. Of course, doing such a thing in a stranger’s territory could be risky. Gnome would not have minded, back when he lived in the Prairie, but he knew that there were others who simply did not tolerate a strange stallion’s presence in their herd.

Evidently, he had nothing to worry about – not that he’d been that worried – because immediately he was asked if he’d been sent. He nodded, responding, ”She did. She’s rather something, eh? Didn’t mention why she was sending me away, but I wasn’t about to argue leaving the Inlet at the start of winter.” He noted that Rougaru seemed a bit serious and tense as he introduced himself. Lord of all Atlantis? He thought he remembered two territories per island. Internally shrugging, he answered the chocolate stallion. ”Yep, I’m Gnome. You don’t happen to know why Xiomara sent me here, do you?”

As he finished, a painted mare sidled up to Rougaru. He noticed her eyes were like his as they roamed over his frame. Why did it suddenly seem like every horse on these islands looked at him like a piece of meat? It was unsettling. Still, her words weren’t unfriendly. He gave her a polite smile, and said, ”Thank you! It’s much nicer than the last place I was. I’m Gnome, and you are?”

Gnome