Leeka allowed Kahlua to come near and nuzzle her, finding that just the touch of another meant the world to her after the loss of her homeland and everything she knew. It also dispelled at last the lingering doubts that the painted mare would vanish somehow, beriding her of the light she needed in this hour. Like a foal trailing after its mother the pintoloosa seamlessly strode alongside Kahlula after her invite to follow, unwilling to even dare muse over the thought of losing sight of the older mare and kept pace at the others shoulder, despite her limbs protest. Though her heart was finally beginning to rise from its glooms the nip of the frost and cold numbed her flesh and made the young mare’s gait unsteady, but whatever grievance she harbored for the slight was erased from her mind when she heard Kahula’s own confession. Leeka was aghast. “ So your home was taken too? How horrid… Do all in Helovia share such similar history?”

In her rambling Leeka nearly missed was Kahlua mentioned next and nothing could have shocked her more. Hope struck through her heart like a bolt of lightning and made her speechless, at least for a few moments, a grin on her maw. Though the talk of gods was strange to her Leeka could only think of her mother’s words and the gift that ran in her blood. Did her mother foresee this opportunity in her visions? Is this the path she mentioned before? This news only cemented Leeka’s faith and determination to learn all she could from Kahlua. After all that has happened to her, she still couldn’t believe her luck. Still, there was something unspoken of that she wondered about.

“Kahlua, I’m grateful for the offer and there is nothing more that I would like then to join your herd, but first answer me this. You say your herd wishes peace through out the land and that your wall is broken, does that mean all is not well in Helovia? Is there yet strife abroad in your land?” She gazed earnestly at the painted mare, awaiting an answer. It was only fair having come from hardship to know if she was rotationally facing another, but even with that ominous possibility floating above so long as Kahlua was near Leeka could weather it alongside her. Of queen she was yet convinced, but a blossoming friendship with the painted mare, that she could- and so desperately wanted.

So focused was she on the painted mare that she did not notice the approach of a young filly as they walked on. Dazed from her travels Leeka could only muster a nod and mumble a greeting in return, feeling yet another wave of warmth from being welcomed. Her troubles were ending, or at least for now. It was as of yet unknown if more awaited her in fates silken threads. Leeka was about to comment when another voice rang out from behind in greeting, though this one belonged to a stallion. Caught between moments she only heard a few snippets of what the dapple stallion said though what was most prominent to Leeka was the mention of a different herd name. The Hidden Falls? So there was more than one herd in Helovia. Again and again this land seemed to hold more surprises. Just how much was different here then from her homeland?