the view is breath taking. spectacular, really. the land she had travelled from was much softer… it was composed of gently rolling hills and long easily sloping meadows. the ruggedness before her is something entirely new and it causes her body to shudder and her heart to beat quickly with the marvelous beauty and possibility of it all.

as the friesian mare stands, perched at the edge of the trail looking out, her ears flicker with the sound of hooves clamoring up the trail behind her. the sound seemed to come out of nowhere, amplifying as it got closer, but feuerherza was too emotionally invested in the moment to tear her eyes from the scene before her. the winding path down the mountain lay below her feet, steep slopes studded with trees, before opening up the a vast lowland bordered by sea. the sound did not worry her. the seventeen hand mare was large enough to discourage most physical threats… but it did cause of a shiver of excitement to rush over her inky black hide.

it isn’t until she hears the voice of another, that she is finally prepared to tear her dark eyes away from the view. the way the hoofsteps slow as they approach lead her to believe that the incoming equine does not intend immediate harm at least and so she does not react with worry. feuerherza nods in agreement, still looking out over the slope. it is beautiful. when her brown eyes turn, taking in the form of the mare, and her ears fix on the voice of the stranger, she notes the concern on the mare’s features. herza tries to show she understands, lowering her great black head to the ground and raising it up, nodding as she gestures over the edge of the trail. it would be a treacherous fall.

the tall friesian mare welcomes the stranger into her space, unconcerned with the swishing tail. where the splashed white mare was tense and concerned, feuerherza was soft and relaxed. she nods again, gesturing far below them in the direction she had come from, the meadow. it wouldn’t be long before the stranger realized her disability and either continued the conversation or gave up on the interaction like others occasionally did.

herza’s eyes leave the winding trail below them to study the stranger, openly. she notes the discomfort and apparent tension. the similarly built white and black female seems to war within herself, wanting to interact but irritated and uncomfortable at the entire situation. when she notes that the mare seems poised to strike, if warranted, herza raises her own head to it’s full height, some inches above her company, with ears flicking back just for an instant. though she was in a new place, unfamiliar and without any claim of her own, the proud black mare would not be bullied or threatened. so far the stranger's words seemed at odds with her actions but the tall black friesian would leave no question open as to how she would react if the mare decided offered a threat. herza would respond in kind.

despite this warning, herza wants to know more. when she makes it clear that she would hold her own, unthreatened by the posture of the unfamiliar mare, she offers a tentative smile. her black muzzle is thrust in the strangers direction, keeping a respectful distance, and then gestures out over the mountain and up above. did this mare call the mountain home? she seemed to be familiar with the winding trail and the dangers it posed at least.