Jusket, being the slightly shorter horse, had a slightly easier time shouldering through the forest. For that reason, he led Jola through the thick pines, ducking under one or two branches that impeded their progress. By the time they reached their first clearing, the pink mare had some sap sticking to her side. Obviously pausing to scratch an itch against a pine tree hadn't been a good idea. "I don't think I'd be so irritated if you hadn't just groomed me,"she snorted as Jusket tried to hide a smirk.

Before they could continue, a pale mare entered the clearing. Her pale hide was covered with paler splotches. Jola ran her eyes over the mare's figure appraisingly while Jusket quietly reassured her, "she doesn't count as a herd." Then he stepped forward towards the mare with a friendly smile as she introduced her land and herself. His eyes lingered on her neck for a second, wondering who –or what– had given that bruise to her. He met her gaze again, strengthening his smile. "Greetings. I am Jusket and this is Jola. We–"

Jola cut him off by bumping her shoulder against his as she approached Mariael. He shot her a glance, but she didn't heed it. "I didn't know queens got bruises. I thought others did your fighting for you." The blue stallion winched. Typical Jola, asking questions she didn't realize were rude. The pink mare examined Mariael's bruise, her neck stretched out to get a better look since she at least had the brains not to get too close. "I hope you gave the bastard worse," she said as she pulled her head back. Jusket's nostrils flared.

As much as he wanted to try and smooth things over, the last time he did that Jola got upset. Even if she wasn't the best at social interactions, she still had feelings. Plus, she could hold her own if the pale mare took offense. "We're explorers," Jusket finished his earlier phrase almost as if he hadn't been interrupted. "I apologize if we've intruded." Jola suppressed a laugh. He wasn't sorry; he'd stirred up worse trouble to go exploring before.