Her heart warmed at the site of her Queen and a tired smile slid across her lips. As much as she wanted Ironclad to come and see his daughter, she never wanted to be a cause for annoyance or frustration from the handsome grey King, and so would not dream of calling him specifically. And Queen Medusa had become a true and dear friend to her over the course of the winter by simple virtue of being there. The painted Queen's presence was enough to make her feel less alone, and she ducked her head to point the girl's face in her direction.

Arael had seen the worry on her Sovereign's face throughout the winter, and could empathize with her fear. She'd felt the same way before giving birth to Velahrn, and while the dark girl's birth could certainly be described as dramatic, it had progressed regardless of whether or not Arael knew what she was doing. She had every bit of faith in her heart that the same would occur for the strong young Queen.

"Thank you," she murmured shyly in response, her whole face glowing with pride. The young filly was still confused about much in this world - most notably, why was it so cold? And where was her nice warm bed? And how did anyone expect her to move with these long sticks attached to her body? They kept going in the wrong direction or wobbling when she least expected it. Perhaps more importantly however, was the addition of another very large horse in front of her. The girl's pale pink nostrils flared in consideration as she stared the stranger down with wide blue eyes. Would she have milk too? The girl's lips smacked in consideration before opting for the familiar over the new and curling up against her mother again to peer shyly at the painted mare.

"I was thinking Avery," the gray mare offered softly, smiling happily at her newborn daughter. Worry flickers in her face briefly as she raises her gaze back to Medusa, but it is largely buried beneath her relief over Avery's safe delivery. "I had a different name picked out for if she was a boy for our King, but since she is not," her voice went softer. "I thought I would name her after me a little bit. She looks like I did when I was little."

She knew that Medusa would have no idea that she had looked like as a child, after all, her once-golden coat had faded to something almost salt-white, with only the water left to betray her hidden pinto markings. Flicking her gaze to the Queen's well rounded midsection, she inclined her head gently. "Have you thought of a name for your little one?" Beneath her, the newly christened filly continued staring at the painted mare with blatant curiosity.

From behind them, the sound of a call echoed out across the herd and Arael bent toward it with a smile on her lips. She whickered back softly in the direction of their King, before tracking his movement closer with a shy smile. The pale mare leaned into Ironclad's caress, but allowed him to step away so that he could interact with Medusa, and then with their daughter. Avery stared at her father with curiosity, daring to wobble a step forward to meet him with her tiny jaws clacking away instinctively.

"She is," Arael murmurs in response to his comment about her health, and allows a moment of silence as the girl stretches tentatively toward her father in curiosity. "I was thinking of calling her Avery, if you approve." She finishes quietly, her breath stilling as she waited for his response.