Murdock watched as she digested his words, lowering her head to set the glass basket upon the mist-shrouded ground so she could speak to him again. Her voice was cheerful and kind, much like the music from her strange box and the chatter of the birds in the treetops. The sun had climbed higher into the sky as they spoke, casting less of a rosy hue and more of an amber glow across the forest. It filtered down through the thick boughs of spruce to spill into the mist below, staining the shattered wall a diluted shade of gold.

She told him of their mission; peace. Having been raised in a country that was often at war, it was not something he had become too familiar with. However, it was something he had sought ever since his arrival and finally, it would seem, he had found it. The Grey had aimed for diplomacy as well but their means of achieving it had involved the use of mercenaries such as himself. How did the Edge go about establishing their treaties and contracts? Much more civilly, he imagined, given the kindness and innocence of this mare before him.

But it got better. They were trying to start over with the Basin. Murdock’s ears perked at the mention of the northernmost herd, the one Chernobyl belonged to. Perhaps if relations were good between the two herds, it would not be so difficult nor so frowned upon for him to visit her in her snowy home. Perhaps then they would not have to be so afraid of discovery and the consequences that might follow such an event.

He nodded his affirmation eagerly; he was a peaceful creature at heart and took immense joy in such simple and childish things as watching the sun set or exploring the shadowed depths of the forest. The most trouble he was likely to cause would be the disturbance of a bee hive whilst he attempted to nap beneath some bent and mossy tree. Though the role he had been trained in since he was a colt involved violence and domination, Murdock was neither cruel nor unjust and preferred to settle disputes with words if he could ever find the right ones to say.

Kahlua captured his attention once more with the mention of Archibald and Ktulu. Since the Grey had fallen apart, he had not heard anything of where his former herd mates had gone. Evidently, some of them had come to the Edge. Perhaps he would find old friends here, though he had never been close with either of the warriors. After Archibald had left, Murdock had taken his position of General, though it had been short lived. He had never been much of a leader anyway, though he had been honored to accept the title.

His eyes widened slightly at her mention of being Queen; they had been standing here all this time and he had been unaware that she was head of this territory? “Good thing I was minding my manners then,” he laughed softly, flicking his tail about his hocks and stirring up the mist around their feet. Not that he was ever rude, but this time he had been on his best behavior. His thoughts returned to something she had said before, some place he had not heard of and in the silence that followed, his curiosity got the best of him. “What was this island you mentioned earlier? The place you said most of the herd had gone to?”

"talk talk talk"