give a little, get a lot
Something about the mention of other islands made Nadja shiver with something close to wanderlust. She was not ready now, and probably wouldn’t be any time soon, but someday she thought she might like to see the other islands. On the mainland, with her old herd, Nadja had traveled extensively. Even in the end when it was just her and Mia. She shivered again and pushed the memories away. They were too sad.
Nadja paused, listening to Shaydowfax’s statement of her purpose for coming to the Commons. “It sounds lonely, living alone between two other herds,” she said. While it sounded like it might be an offer for Nadja herself to join the buckskin mare in her home, she thought it may be rude to assume, though it seemed to her like a pleasant idea. Nadja had not planned beyond just arriving to the islands (in fact when she left the mainland she had not been entirely sure they were real) and to find out that there were many herds living here meant that it would be wise to find protection. A lone mare on an island of bands did not often spell good things.
“I am not sure if you are asking me to come with you,” she said, deciding to take the direct approach, “and I wouldn’t want to impose. But if you are looking for mares to come to your home with you, I would be happy to attend. I don’t think it wise for me to stay here on this island alone for very much longer. Especially with it getting cold.” She almost wanted to lean against the other mare again for warmth; the mention of cold made Nadja aware of the brisk air again, and of her cold legs, and she shivered. Her winter coat would fill in soon, but for a few days yet the blue mare would be happy for the body heat of companions.
