Rusalka looked up at the whinny, watching with interest as a palomino mare approached. She'd heard of the sisterhood living in the mountains, and knew she must be drawing near to their territory, but the other mare seemed to have a casual enough air that Rusalka was fairly confident she wasn't about to be violently kicked out for trespassing.

She nickered a greeting back, stretching out her neck to share breaths with the stranger before moving a few steps to the side to maintain a distance between them. They were still strangers, after all, and a little reasonable wariness never hurt anyone.

"Hello, Oswin," she greeted. "I'm Rusalka, just a wanderer. I heard a sisterhood of mares lives here--are you their leader, then?" Her smile was genuine, holding the same warmth with which she tried to treat most strangers nowadays. The attitudes of these horses were shockingly friendly and approachable compared to some people back home, but Rusalka was getting used to it--even preferring the way things were over here. Even without existing connections in the form of family or a herd, it was surprisingly easy just to talk to people.

Rusalka flicked her tail cheerfully. "I'll take you up on that offer, then. It looks like an impressive climb--is it much cooler up there in the summer?" Even if it wasn't, the opportunity to explore the Peak wasn't something Rusalka wanted to pass up--after a lifetime inhabiting flat marshes and meadows, she was practically frothing at the mouth for a chance to explore different landscapes. She nodded at Oswin. "Lead on, Prime Minister."