’.. Oh my sire has NO idea…’ The words the younger mare murmurs cause Nyimara’s brow to raise slightly. Curious. Ash-dusted labrums pressed tightly together as she continued to study the red woman a moment longer, letting the silence build between them. She ought to ask, knew that it would be to her benefit to learn just exactly what ties this mare had to the islands and what she was tying herself too by agreeing to train and guide the youth. It was what any queen would do.

But Nyimara is not just any queen. Nyimara is THE queen of the Desert and that fact alone, more than any other reason, stills the question on her tongue. There were other ways to find out the answers she wanted to learn. But now, now, she needed to build that trust and see exactly what it is she is working with.

A scoff lingers in her throat as the pregnant mare continues on her way, climbing the malleable dunes of sand with relative ease. Voidless black eyes glance at Tefnut, blinking against the burning rays of sunlight. ”We will see about that…” she breathes, slowing her pace as she allows the momentum of her rounded body and the weight of her frame carry her down the opposite hillside and onto firmer ground. ”Salem is far more unforgiving than your precious little jungle island…” she begins, pausing a moment to slow her pace enough to keep the russet mare close. ”Things that you might take for granted in Atlantis are the same ones that will leave your bones bleaching the earth here on Salem.” she hisses, tilting her finely dished muzzle towards the thick clump of date trees and palms just visible over the horizon line. ”Water for instance…” she begins, lengthening her gait to a slow jog. ”Should never be forgotten. Know where the oasis are and be sure to drink daily. It doesn’t take long for a horse to overheat out here and that is a much more dangerous fact than Atlantis.” she continues pressing onward. ”So…. What exactly has your father told you of me?” Was this line of thinking necessary? No. Did it stroke her ego? Absolutely. Would it change her decision to train this red girl and turn her into yet another loyal herdmate like Kara and Shenzi? Not in the least. She at least had to settle the smallest hints of her curiosity though, one way or the other.