“Róisín,” Shenzi greeted in response, when the bay dun mare appeared, her tongue curling around the General’s name. She held no reservations, at least, not in regards to the mare before her, and so, there was no hesitation or unease in her as she extended her muzzle to share breath with vulcan warrior. The hesitation came soon after, causing the lines of her body to become tense, and her expression to darken, as it always did when her thoughts strayed to the time that had been taken from her by the brutes of the Lagoon.

Clearing her throat, Shenzi willed the words to rise to her tongue, lest her change in demeanor be misinterpreted by the kindly soul before her. “I wanted to thank you, properly, for… For everything you’ve done for me.” Not quite what she’d wanted to say, but it was close enough. It was genuine, she meant it, and yet, it didn’t sit well with the barb mare, not knowing what it had cost.

“It’s a dark place,” she found herself rumbling under her breath, a low and savage sound, dropping her gaze. The Lagoon. “And I hate it.” It was the Lagoon she was talking about. (Wasn’t it?) With a sharp snort, she shook herself free of the shadows, and risked glancing back up at Róisín, wondering if it would be judgment or disquiet she saw in the depths of the other mare’s gaze.

“The other, who was with you. Oswin,” Shenzi continued after several moments had passed (in a weighty sort of silence, if Róisín had chosen not to comment on her growled grievance, or with a shallow dip of Shenzi’s muzzle if the bay sabino had offered any sort of response). “What did they demand in exchange for my freedom? Did she -” The brown mare parted her lips again, but seemed to reconsider what she’d been about to say.

With a firm shake of her head, the fierce desert mare pressed on, because she needed answers, and she’d give anything for them. “If they took one of your own, I will help you fight until they are free.” Dark-rimmed ears slicked back and her voice deepened with latent anger as she skirted as close to the possible dark truth as she dared. “If you think they will come for the child, I will stay and help protect Oswin.”

There was nothing in her tone to suggest that she didn’t think Oswin weak, or in need of defending, nor did she mean to imply Róisín (as General), or any of the others who lived her incapable of defending their own. In Shenzi’s eyes, it was a matter of honour, as much as she was capable of honour (for she was a far cry from the broken but still benevolent creature who’d washed up on the shores of the Island chain all those years ago). “It is the least I can do. Ask anything of me.”

And why? Why such a weighty promise, from such a savage and solitary soul? Towards a group who were little more than strangers to her, all things considered. “Only an unfortunate few could understand how much the freedom you’ve given me means,” Shenzi said, the words softer than any she’d spoken thus far, tone tinged with a sorrow that ran deep, to the very marrow of her solid and sturdy bones. And though she didn’t say it, it was burning there in her eyes; a sort of scar in its own way, one that she hoped Róisín didn’t recognise. I pray that you’re not one of them.