The painted stallion asks Zhenya to leave them while the buckskin deals with the black stallion. Soon though, he too is asked to leave. As the trio turn to go, her tri-colour filly pulls back and hugs into her legs. For a brief few moments she watches the stallion before curling up and swiftly falling asleep beneath her mother. At least that was another possible nuisance under control.

The stallion seemed to be sizing up her son and she let him do so in silence though she would be interested to know what he thought. The boy was strong and capable though he could do with a little more confidence - that would come with time and the influence of his peers. Yes, he was blind and deaf on the right side but he didn’t let it get in the way.

She snorted softly as he referenced the disability, ”Yes, but so is yours”. It hadn’t escaped her notice that Zhenya’s boy’s eyesight was less than perfect. She understood what the fixed, unseeing pupil meant, ”It does not make them any less capable.” She had taught Joukahainen as much as she could about fighting and surviving. It had been more difficult with one eye and one ear being completely useless but having never had them, the colt didn’t notice he was missing out.

The stallion asks what she wants in return for bringing her son to the lagoon, ”Nothing too sinister.” she says with a small smirk spreading over the corner of her ashen lips, ”Just that you and your men do not target the forest herd unduly. I am aware of the bad blood that has been stirred up but it ends here. If you try and take from us it is for business and not to settle some petty score and you offer us the same deals you offer the band herds.” there was every chance he might not care about settling a score with Lyden but what about the black stallion?