She did not know the mare that approached, but she knew enough from gathering information that this mare was one of Rougaru’s Queens. She didn’t know which one this was, but either way Himena was weary with her approach. Her muzzle tucks her filly behind her as Bathsheba stares at her mother confused. ”Shh it will be alright,” she whispers to her foal before her head raises and her eyes meet the painted mare’s gaze. The grulla mare asks if everything was alright so Himena nods her delicate white skull. ”Yes…” Her voice trails off as she traces the muscles and battle marks on the mare’s hide. Himena has fought for Rougaru’s heart before, but she had never liked to. She hated fighting and though she had been successful the last time she fought to be his Queen; she wasn’t about to do that again. Not after everything he has done.

”Loving Rougaru is hard isn’t it?” She says with a flip of her white tail against her haunches. This mare had to understand life with their King was not all sunshine and roses. Rougaru was a hardened man with many ladies at his beck and call. He was the same stallion he was when she met him, but he treated this herd differently. He stays here just as he had once stayed with his herd in the mountains. She wonders when he would finally decide to leave this place behind and the two mares he decided to appoint Queens behind him. ”I loved him once and I was his Queen once upon a time.” Blue eyes cast out behind the mare into the thick of the jungle. Rougaru had always chosen the pretty homes to take roost in with the prettiest mares to keep him company.

”You are one of his Queen’s now?” Himena finally asks the paint mare to gain some clarity. She wanted to know everything she could to hold over the stallion’s head later. She already knew enough to know he would never be touching her again, but more could always be learned.