Common

Isla listened quietly as Enya spoke of the behaviors she expected from her herd, but found nothing amiss. Of course, there might yet be hidden things that the golden woman did not speak of in public, but Isla found that unlikely. Hearing that Enya claimed to not be above the politics of the islands did put her slightly on edge, as she wasn't sure exactly what that meant. The only politics that Isla had ever been directly privy to had been the kind that separated her from parts of her family, and she was not keen to participate in them. Kerr, at least, would always have a home with his grandmother in the Prairie if the worst were to happen to Isla.

She hummed noncommittally in answer, but fell silent as Enya admitted to the traumas of her past. "I'm sorry for yer loss," Isla said quietly, unsure if that was what Enya was seeking. Losing family was hard, but Isla was aware of how prospective leaders might play on one's heartstrings. It was a common enough tactic from the stallions she had met on her travels. If she had a flower for each one that had tried to spin her a tale of a lost lover during the height of autumn she'd have enough to make a whole bouquet.

-But I am not afraid to be the bad guy when I have to be, Enya was saying, and Isla's gaze narrowed. Especially when it is for the best interest of my family, she finished, and Isla's jaw tightened. Such a cryptic sentiment was not overly comforting as a prospective herd member. What would Enya define as for the benefit of her family? Were Isla to have a daughter, was Enya the sort to trade her away for political alliances? Would she gift Kerr to the Lagoon to appease the stallions there?

What is the worst I could do? The mare's flippant comment earns a distrustful snort from the little roan. As a leader, there was a lot she could do. The problem was figuring out whether or not she was the sort that would do it. Had it been just Isla alone, she would have agreed without a single hesitation. There was little risk for her in going with a mare leader... but Kerr made everything different. He needed to be protected, and the things that would not have bothered her as a lone mare could very much be problematic now.

"Ma?" Kerr whispered at her side, his cute pink nose lifted to be near her face. He'd been waiting quietly through this whole discussion, but Enya's comment about the fish had reminded him of something they'd been discussing the other day after he'd brought a pinecone to his family for inspection. "I want tae see the coconuts."

Isla couldn't help it, his change of direction was so unexpected that she couldn't help but laugh - the sound strained but genuine - and reach to tousle his mane. Her laugh prompted a smile from him, and he drew his head up, tail flicking eagerly over his haunches. "An' we can race the keerabs taegether."

She laughed again, and closed her eyes for a moment as she drew a steadying breath in. No matter who she went with, she would always be risking these same things. There was no singular conversation that would tell her if Enya was worth trusting... she would just have to trust that things would turn out okay.

"Fine," she muttered, and the boy beamed at her. "Fiiiine, you win lad." She turned her gaze back to Enya, her expression still conflicted. "Aye, we'll go wi' ye, Enya. But ken he means th'world tae me, an' I willnae be parted from 'im afore I'm ready."

With that final proclamation, mother and son turned expectantly to follow Enya to the Shore.

OOC: Figure we can either start a new one in the Shore, or I can pop her into something existing eventually <3