Ridge

She had been grazing quietly when the sound of foreign voices reached her dark-rimmed ears. Initially, she had intended to ignore it. Arroyo was adept at handling intruders, and besides, she was no lead mare. Between her and Aventuras, the latter was more qualified, despite her absence. Deirdre was too opinionated, too quick to anger, to be an effective leader. She was barely an effective mother, but at least Naoise and Sionainn had managed to grow into powerful young adults.

However, when her daughter came rushing toward her with her face all screwed up with worry and a plea to help on her lips, Dee knew she couldn't sit idly by. Sionainn summarized the scene for her, describing a mare that had arrived and been immediately flanked by two stallions that were clearly in pursuit of her. Great. Fantastic. Wonderful. The dun thought to herself sourly, launching into a rapid lope through the jungle home. Just what we need.

She arrived just as the mare turned to go to the ocean and found her ears pinning back even as she jogged closer. Neither stallion was familiar to her, and it made the hairs along her back prickle uneasily. "Hey you-" She snapped, using her loudest and angriest "mom" voice. "Leave the girl alone."

Even so, she did not attempt to intervene physically. Deirdre was not the sort of mare that enjoyed battling, nor was she unaware of the fact that if she got too close, she might be inviting trouble for herself. Instead, she merely hoped to provide enough of a distraction for the girl to turn and try to make her way to the safety of the jungle, where it might be harder for her pursuers to follow. "Why don't you go find someone that wants you around?"

All the while desperately wishing Arroyo was there with her.

OOC: I know she's basically still going with them but Deirdre would at least do a little to try!