Jasiri decided that she liked the stallion almost immediately. It refreshed her to hear another individual speak so bluntly, and his formality added to her newfound respect for the stranger. Her ears flicked at his foreign language and first noticeable movement. She wouldn't readily admit his statue-like nature unnerved her, but it did. Her lips twitched as she mulled over his words and how to respond, taking extra time to fit the words together as concisely as possible. She disliked wasting time on unnecessary words.

He reminded her of no one else in her life. Her old herd consisted of unimportant and uninteresting horses who didn't have any concerns aside from the herd. She barely remembered her family. Only a fleeting image of a black roan stallion gave any indication of where she came from. She stretched out her neck to exchange scents with the stallion, nostrils flaring to take in his smell as fully as possible. Her nose remained close to him longer than normal or necessary, and she reluctantly pulled it back once she realized. She didn't want to forget any details of the stranger anytime soon. She would easily recognize his unique scars and mannerisms again but she refused to take any risks.

Finally, the silver mare allowed the lingering smile she couldn't hide to grow into a small grin. "There is no one here to serve, obey, or protect," she tried to loosen her accent's tight vowels to put emphasize on the repeated words, "except me." She didn't let her eyes leave his face or her delight show anymore than before. This draft practically sprang from her wildest dreams; she didn't want to lose this thrilling opportunity. Her statement banked heavily on the hope that the stallion hadn't yet explored the thick forest beyond them or didn't have any interest in it. "Is there?" Her grin twitched a smidgen wider.

JASIRIsilver bay roan of the Inlet