Jörmungandr’s gaze rests on her daughter and the colt as they begin to sleep. He ears lean toward Lyden though as he speaks though she isn’t quite sure how to respond. The articulation of emotions such as love, make her uneasy except with her children. She is not entirely sure what love is or if it is really possible for her. She takes after her sire’s side of the family, all of whom are proud and not particularly emotional. They can admit to deep respect and certainly have formed attachments to significant horses but none can really say if that is love. They are not outwardly emotional beings however so Lyden’s words make her feel a tad awkward.

A small smile finds her lips as he remembers her comment about the gods and speaks of her capability as a leader. Her eyes flicker up from the foals to look at him, ”That means a lot to me.” she speaks earnestly, ”More than I can articulate”. She hoped he would not be too put out by her failure to make any similar declarations. They were not in her nature and would mean nothing is forced.

Jörmungandr is in the dark about the latest developments so it is with a highly curious ear that she listens to Lyden’s following words. That first night on the beach, she had realised how young and naïve Caesisus was. It does not surprise her to hear that Caesisus has found herself in more trouble; some horses are just magnets for it. So she had told the challenging stallion that she didn’t know what she wanted rather than encouraging him to abandon the challenge. She had more or less encouraged It which proved to Jörmungandr that she thrived on discord despite her declarations otherwise. Jormungandr snorted softly, but kept listening. She had been with a lagoon stallion too, he says.

The buckskin mare listened quietly, thinking it all over as he concluded. They gave up so much to get her here, how could he justify that if he sent her away just because she had spent some time with other males; what happened to soulmates? She snorted, shaking her head. Caesisus was more trouble than she was worth but was, begrudging, part of the family. If Lyden, her declared soulmate, was becoming disillusioned, who would stick up for her? Reluctantly, Jörmungandr would have to take on that burden although there were issues to be addressed regardless.

”Is it only male attention that she seeks or does she converse with women as well? It is no crime for us to speak with other stallions so long as we make it clear that we do not wish to leave you and our home. I cannot speak for her run in with Kasabian, but if she says the lagoon stallion is just a friend then perhaps he is and you should take her word for it.” She flicks her tail, a hint of tension in the way it dances. ”It is not hard to see that she is young and naïve. She thrives on attention but I am sure she will grow out of that in time. You should be patient with her. Jealousy and putting pressure on her will only drive her further away.”

”We have lost too much just to just cast her out. You should speak to her” she says, after a pause. ”And so should I.” she concludes. They are long overdue a chat.