She smiled at her newly met herd-sister because she was unable to keep herself from doing otherwise. In fact, Hickere doubted she could bear to strip the smile from her mouth even if she wanted to. She was happy that Braylen had brought this lovely mare into their home. Hickere didn’t care that she was blind just as much as she didn’t care that Isobel was mute. These were her new sisters and Hickere felt protectiveness toward them and knew that, when she could, she would be Georgiana’s eyes just as much as she would be Isobel’s voice. Perhaps it was foolish for her to jump so far ahead and think she had to be either of these things for them, but that was simply how Hickere was. Caring and logical. “Isobel can’t speak,” Hickere thought it was good to tell Georgiana now and save her the embarrassment of having to try and convey that message when Georgiana wouldn’t be able to see her trying to. “But she’s lovely.” Hickere certainly cared for Isobel.
“Much the same as you, actually,” she answered as her smile climbed a bit higher on her lips and could be heard in the happy lightness of her tone. “I’ve been here since autumn, Braylen and his father, Lyden, came across my sisters and myself. I joined Braylen’s herd, my sisters joined Lyden’s.” Well, Dickere certainly had. Hickere had no idea what Dock was doing but that was neither here nor there, nor was it a matter that she needed to confuse or bring Georgiana into.
“The forest has been a lovely home so far,” Hickere said, taking a moment to peer around into the dense vegetation and the prettiness that looked back at her, “and Braylen is very strong and very kind.” Her voice softened as she spoke of him and even without being able to see how brightly her eyes shone at his mention it was very, very clear that in the short time she’d known him, Hickere had developed something of a crush on him. Whether or not it was reciprocated, Hickere didn’t know, but she knew she loved her home here and she knew now that she already cared for her herd-sisters.
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