Khar watches the girl closely. The level tenor of her voice does not cause immediate fear in the girl, nor does the smoke woman toss her head high in preparation for battle. Dark lashes blink slowly as the girl squares her shoulders, as if an unspoken acknowledgement that she would be prepared for any path that Khar’pern set before her. The pale light does much to hide the twitching of a smile that tugs at the corners of her ashen lips. The girl had potential to be sure.

Her appearance was a bit confusing. She did not appear as most of those desperate to be free of stallions and their tyrannical rule. There are no white rimmed eyes or fear etched into every fiber of her tense muscles. She does not glance around her with the same nervousness as Hollis had, waiting for her captor to manifest himself from the shadows of the sea’s depths. Most seeking refuge sought the southern shores, where sands and smoother waters greeted them. In truth, even the Peak mares rarely bothered to patrol these rougher shores. Only the foolish or most determined would ever dare to test their luck with this section of mountain and its sheer drops.

’It’s only dangerous if I am afraid…’ her words cause the smile to widen across Khar’s lips as the mare’s finely dished muzzle dips slightly in agreement. Yes, this girl would fit in well with the Peak mares if that was what brings her here. ’..I feel no fear… excitement to reach my new home.’ her words cause a single brow to arch. So she was seeking home here without the tyrannical control of stallions. ”You must be born of these islands then… to know of the Peaks and for what we stand.” she murmurs, shifting the weight of her body between her heels to all herself into a more relaxed position. ”I am Khar’pern, Prime Minister of the Peaks. Come.” she finishes, leaping nimbly down the rocky incline. She glances back across her shoulders to where the storm cloud mare stood, ”There is a better marked path not far from here.” The invitation is there, even if it is hidden behind roughly spoken words and carefully guarded suspicion.