Still muttering under her breath, Adelheid readied herself for a climb up the mountains. Luckily, a voice broke through her griping before she lost herself in a trail of internal ranting. She lifted her head and looked over as the other mare approached, her secret relief not making it to her dark face. At first her ears flicked back and she bared her teeth, interpreting Wasp’s words as a challenge. She had just as much right to be here as the bay did. Even if Adelheid had not been born and raised in the mountains, the Peak was home to any mare who needed one, whether they intended to stay or not.

The friesian mutt had to bite back a frigid response, reminding herself she had not intended to make more enemies and she was trying to set herself on a path of personal growth. Still her eyes narrowed into a habitual mild glare and her ears remained back. She recalled her conversations with Herza, Rhadra, and even her sister and bit by bit forced her body to relax to one of wariness, but not aggression.

Yes. Her voice was dry and flat, little better than a growl. Adelheid huffed at herself and shook her head again, actively trying to change her tone. Sorry, yes. I grew up here. Inka was my dam, Jetta my sister. Though kinder than her original response, her voice was still clipped at the thought of her late mother. Trying desperately to continue to not snarl at Wasp, she reminded herself the other mare had not actually challenged her, but had asked her a simple question. She glanced back up at the rocky faces high above them. I left for a while, knowing I would always come back eventually. I… can’t leave these mountains. She loved them too dearly to even think of it again. Shaking her neck and shoulders of the emotions that caused her uncomfortable feelings of affection, she tried to change the topic slightly. My name is Adelheid. You… you clearly have some sort of loyalty to this place… Adelheid could not help the tone of admiration flavoring her words. Wasp had stepped up and defended the Peak and Coda as if the mountains themselves had created her. The mare could respect that, and feel a little envious that Wasp had such a tie that Adelheid would need to rebuild.