a new world hangs outside the window
beautiful and strange
it must be I've fallen awake
I must be

The Vulcan herd needed allies. Wasp herself, needed them, trusted confidants to help guide her in her early years of fumbling through leadership. The dark bay mare was new at this, and she was young. She tried her best not to be distracted by grief, but everything had snowballed so fast. One minute, she was staring blankly at her dam's lifeless body in the middle of a war. The next she was suddenly back in the Peak, with a herd of mares and foals looking to her to guide them forward. All she wanted was a minute to take a breath.

So she takes one now, the sides of her barrel rising and falling slowly. Her amber gaze remains transfixed on the red mare in front of her, the one with all the questions. Enemies. What a complicated word. For a second, Wasp's boxy head flicks high above her withers, but settles as she attempts to gather her thoughts. "We have no enemies here, Nekharat." She spoke bluntly but calmly. "You know of our ongoing strife with the Lagoon. It unfortunately grew into something much more dangerous in recent years. But our time with the bachelor captives has built some rapport. I believe we'll be able to work together to start a new chapter, though likely without the tyrant who is in a position of power over the Lagoon now." She offers in quick explanation.

Wasp listens as Nekharat continues with her rant, of righteousness and good faith, and suppresses the great urge to roll her eyes. "If only the world were so simple." She remarks quickly with the stomp of her hoof. "The Peak's ambitions have not changed. We are a sanctuary for the oppressed, for mares looking for refuge and sisterhood. We value the right to choose one's own path. We stand up for those who have been robbed of that right."

She eyes the lean mare now. "I'm not sure who you have talked to who has misconstrued our message in your travels..." She says, her voice trailing off. Solomon comes to mind, of course, but there is no way for Wasp to discern that for certain. "But from time to time, a stallion chases after a mare who seeks out our help. They often are not happy when we are unwilling to give back what they feel is theirs." She says with a snort. "No one deserves to be property." She says, taking a second to choose her next words. Does that answer your questions?"

W A S P