The draft visibly relaxed once the stallion spoke again. Even though he was short, he was no threat to her. Her old herd stallion never greeted them the way this stallion had, and she could only assume he would have if the god was as important as he sounded. She took a step back from the stallion, her ears flicking up and body loosening.

"I am the only mare here," she said, jerking her head up to flip her forelock out of her eye. She paused for a moment, frown deepening as she mulled over an idea. Finally she snorted and spoke again. "There is another herd in the forest," she gestured her muzzle at the broad pine forest stretching over the horizon, "you may pass through my tundra to reach it."

Her head turned to the side again to study the stallion intently. She wouldn't let him wander off alone, of course. She would follow, either right behind him or paces away. She would not take her eyes off of this stranger until he left her land.

JASIRIsilver bay roan of the Inlet