Zjeena had a point. Food was by far easier to come by here than it had been in the Bay, even before winter had set in and hard frozen the ground. Still, there was something to be said for the mindless activity of pawing through the snowy crust, if only for something to do to pass the time. As a mare that was already an easy keeper, there was no denying that a certain plumpness unrelated to her stage of pregnancy had begun to flesh out Grier's body.

The pony mare does not miss Zjeena's veiled implication that she will be here next season either. She does not doubt that the dun mare would begrudge her for leaving, but the simple statement does much to make Grier's decision for her. In one statement, Zjeena has made her feel more wanted than any of the stallion's she's met on the Isles. Leave it to a lass to do wot the men's cannot. A grin flickered about her lips once more and broadens as Zjeena mentions the tiny furnace.

Blue eyes flick to the mare's swollen figure and she is surprised to see just how large her stomach is. Grier's experience with pregnancies were largely limited to her first child and those that she had seen as a young filly, but she did not remember anyone with quite the same dimensions. Warmly the pinto mare offers, "ye must have a braw lad in there, just as fierce as his ma."

Liland than is brought up and Grier sobers, knowing that the exchange was likely hard for the co-drappa. If Grier had learned one thing so far, it was that Liland's interactions tended to go to some sort of extreme in some way. She hadn't interacted with the stallion much, if truth were told, despite her months living there. And from what she had seen, he liked talking about himself a great deal. The drappa elaborates then, painting the more full picture of the scene. Her mouth moves faster than her thoughts and the words are given with only the slightest edge of bitterness. "Figured it'd be about that. Isnae me he wants tae see."

Zjeena continues then and Grier's mood continues to sour. What part o' threats does the man think will win us over? Whether the bastard likes it or not, I'm a free lass again. Of course, Grier cannot know if Liland has realized or even been told this. From the pony's experience, it's a novel thing to free a mare from a claim after fighting for them. Shoulda made 'im wait in the Crossing. Might'ave been Rougaru's wean instead o' his. Considering how afraid the grullo stallion had been of Rougaru interfering even back then, she likely could have gotten herself free of him before she'd even been embroiled in this mess.

She's jerked from her thoughts by Zjeena's sincere words and her heart softens all over again. In only a few interactions, the grullo queen has solidified Grier's allegiance without even trying to. She may dislike Paradise and find Rougaru's smarmy confidence offputting, but she would follow Zjeena to the ends of the earth and back. The smile that has flickered on her lips broadens and stays, even as the drappa goes on to gush over the silvered stallion.

It still sounds like a lovesick filly to her. A girl so used to the horrors of stallions that used her that she was willing to sell her soul to the first boy that bothered to say hello before whisking her away, but Grier keeps this thought to herself. If'n she wants to believe 'e's a saint, I willnae stop her. I dinna think the man respects me as he does this fierce lass, but perhaps in time 'e will prove worthy of that loyalty. The image of the stallion rises in her mind, the fuzzy, distrusting form of Valka sour faced in response. Grier did not need perfection, but she was fairly certain that respect was not Rougaru's first instinct when it came to owning mares.

But her decision has been made, and not even Zjeena's faith in the chocolate stallion will sway it. "I appreciate it, lass. I'll stay 'ere, officially. Not because of 'im, mind. Mayhaps yer man will grow on me, but I want ye to know it's you I'm staying fer."

Grier's talk flicks across her haunches and her head bobs slightly. She offers her muzzle again, solidifying her allegiance before withdrawing and moving onto something lighter. "Wot's the rest of our herd like then?"