Faolain watched with interest as Vesper greeted the stranger. He was tense as the small dark filly pushed right up to him, puffing a little air into his nostrils. When she was satisfied, Faolain ushered her away, and he gleefully disappeared into the shadows again.

She turned her attention back to the stranger. Her own tension was fading, and a guilty humor began to take its place as she watched the stallion become tangled in the vines. He had mentioned being new to the islands, and Faolain chuckled at the irony of ending up not only in the jungle of the Ridge, but its deepest and most claustrophobic shadows at that.

“Relax,” she said kindly, stepping forward and prodding at some of the offending vines with her small muzzle. She found one that had particular interest to her, gripped it in her teeth and gave it a tug. The vines didn’t fall away, but they loosened significantly, giving the newcomer the freedom to step out of them if he was careful. “It’s not all like this,” she assured him, slipping through the vines herself with familiar ease. “That little spider you just met enjoys playing down here, for some reason.” She followed him uphill and out of the dense vegetation, and the Ridge opened up around them, letting some sun in and allowing for a glimpse of the sea behind them.

“I am Faolain. What brings you here?” she asked, keeping one ear twisted behind for the soft footfalls of Vesper, who trailed behind them in the shadows, trying to remain hidden.