The mare spoke and I lifted my ears more out of surprise than any real interest. So. The filly was gone, not that I cared. I exhaled loudly and flipped my ears back before glancing out into the trees. I had a choice. This mare had not tested me unduly, had not disappeared or challenged my authority beyond what I expected from a newcomer to the herd or a mother with a foal that was not mine. Besides that, its height and girth made it attractive to me. Of all the mares who’d lived with me in the woods these past few months, the graying black was the one I was least willing to lose.

I snorted again, more softly this time, and stalked forward until I stood shoulder to shoulder with the mare. The bastard child was of no concern to me, but I would allow the mare to look for it. It was either this or take it away now and have it try to run off with some silly idea that it would find its missing offspring someday. Well did I know how useless that sort of venture would be. Images of my daughters filtered through my mind and I blinked hem away. I did not have time for sentiment. Flicking an ear at the mare, I turned my head to regard it in impatient silence. These woods were large, but not large enough to spend a week roaming through. If the filly was still in the Forest, its scent would make tracking it easy enough. But I would not permit the mare to leave the woods and investigate the neighboring territory. Once we left the trees the ocean would be our next destination. And from there, my familiar hunting ground.

I wondered how much to Lagoon had changed and suppressed a sigh. I rocked my body to nudge the mare’s shoulder with my own, encouraging it to move and get this useless search underway. I didn’t want to be driving it in front of me through the ocean in the dark.