The pale mare chuckled at his reply, and responded with a sly smile “Not nearly”. Maslakhat had come into Keyik’s life when she was young and naïve, a friendly and familiar-yet-not-so-familiar face in a foreign and frightening land. He had a way of making her feel at home when her home was far away. Wolpertinger had never made her feel that way, perhaps because they were so vastly different. Up until they left the sands of their homeland, the pair had never even met – their families and parts of their cultures so glaringly different. Had things gone differently soon after Keyik’s birth, perhaps they still would not have met – but that would also mean that she would not have met Maslakhat, or had Nyazik.

She breathed in his scent, and wondered how long they would have together this time.

Her smile wavered at the mention of Wolpertinger. As close as the pair were, and she did, in her own way, appreciate what her companion had given up for her, Keyik did not wish to sully this reunion. Wolpertinger has made no secret of not trusting Maslakhat, though he had never done anything to prove untrustworthy, and she had nothing but distain for Nyazik either. As far as Wolpertinger was concerned, Nyazik should never have been conceived. Yes, but with any luck she won’t disturb us." She glanced toward the trees, as if expecting the white-rumped mare to appear.

She snorted softly as his voice reeled her attention back to him, ”Yes, lets. she agreed, matching his pace. ”Where have you been since last we met?” she asked, genuinely curious. There was no accusation of why he did not stick around for her and Nyazik, after all, for all she knew, she was more elusive than he was – though she never did catch wind of him on Salem.