Stratton remained silent while Blaine introduced herself to their host, but he gingerly offered his nose to the man nonetheless. She was glad that the stranger seemed to be perfectly friendly – Stratton was obviously a little on edge, and she would have hated to have her new companion chased away from her so soon.

She smiled cheerfully at Boomslang as he introduced himself, shifting her weight to rest one hind leg, relaxed now that they had met the stallion who owned this land and found that he was welcoming. She had been lucky to find such amiable companions so soon into her stay on these strange, new islands.

“It’s nice to meet you, Boomslang,” Blaine replied pleasantly. “Your home is lovely.”

Tilting her head, ears flicking forwards, she listened to his question. She had almost forgotten, amidst the fun she had been having, that she would be staying here permanently and not returning home. That saddened her for a second, as the feeling of homesickness reappeared inside her, but she pushed the unhappy thoughts away and instead reminded herself of everything new she would get to experience now; she would soon settle into it, she knew.

“No, I’m not from here. I found my way to the Common by chance, on my way from my old home,” she explained.

She fell silent then, but still smiling, turning to look at Stratton. She would let him answer the question himself this time, she had decided.