Cerosi found that the yearling’s energy was contagious, and she smiled at him. ”Brown is still pretty,” she said. Though he was younger and still lanky, he had already passed Cerosi in height, and she had to look up at him slightly. Not as tall as his father, but she wondered if he would someday catch up. Cain was very tall.

She flushed a bit when it appeared Akello had heard her stomach growling. Have you been to the east side of the herd lands yet? he asked. ”I haven’t yet, no,” she answered, her curiosity piqued at the thought of exploring some more. She laughed softly. ”I’ve kept to myself out here for the most part,” she admitted. ”I haven’t met anyone aside from you and Cain yet. And Nasa, of course. I’m… not very good with people.” She didn’t want to explain that she had recently come out of a life that had severely stunted her social skills. She hoped Akello did not think less of her for failing to approach Cain in his time of grief; she simply did not trust herself not to make it worse. Not to mention she still knew very little about the stallion. Still, he and his son were friendly and forgiving, and maybe he would appreciate the effort if she had little else to offer. She decided she would try and find him later, or maybe tomorrow, when he’d had some time for himself.

For now, Akello’s offer of a tour was enticing, and she accepted with an excited bob of her dark head. ”I’d like that very much,” she said, prepared to follow him across the territory. ”My winter coat has blown out since arriving, but shade still sounds lovely. It’s going to take me a while to get used to this,” she said with a friendly laugh.

”Dialogue”

• CEROSI •