The stallion listens quietly while she speaks her lengthy (and yet so condensed) explanation of Helovia. She had half expected his attention to wander off halfway through, or even doze off a little bit, but the man seems to keep an even level of focus, to which the mare appreciates. A smile rests softly on her lips as she comes to a close, sure that he has questions, but before he’s able to voice any, another equine comes to join them. Long lashes flutter as Tiamat turns her white eyes to the newest stranger. She (Yael, Tiamat soon learns) is undoubtedly beautiful, with skin of glowing honey and wings that are both large and glorious, not to mention the exotic accent that flourishes around every word.

When Yael’s attention turns briefly towards the sea maiden, her smile widens, and she nods a brief greeting. “Hello, Yael,” the angle of her body shifts to accommodate their newest arrival, “My name is Tiamat.” Meanwhile, Nimue has once again huddled close against her bondmate’s hip, peering underneath the curve of the mare’s belly to observe the gilded pegasus. The little whale is shy, but Tiamat can sense the Leviathan’s curiosity through their bond. Giving her companion encouragement through their mental link, Tiamat returns her attention to the two winged equines, focusing again on the stallion.

“A pleasure, Kyanos,” she is happy to have a name to christen his handsome features with, wholly oblivious to the inward turmoil and internal struggle that he might be warring with. While her own world has been blackened with recent events, she has been spared of many of the world’s larger demons.

Kyanos seems to have noticed this, and inquires about her earlier stumbling of words. “I did hesitate,” the blue mare confirms, inhaling a deep breath before she continues, “because, up until recently, there was a fourth herd in Helovia: the Hidden Falls. It was disbanded when their patron god dedicated himself to the entirety of Helovia.” She leaves it simple, delicate, because there is no reason for him to know why the Earth God had to abandon his people. It is information Kyanos should absolutely receive, but not today. There is too much that is good in this world for his view to be stained so quickly.

Flicking her tail around her ankles, Tiamat is relieved when their conversation goes on. A chime of laughter breezes past her lips when the stallion speaks playfully. “You could do that, I suppose, but it’d be wise to have an escort with you,” she says with another airy chuckle, more in jest than anything else.

At his final question, the ocean mare pauses, trying to organize the plethora of thoughts that suddenly flood into her mind. “I’ve lived in the Basin the whole time I’ve been in Helovia—several years now,” her smile twists crookedly, and she shakes her head, hardly believing that it’s been so long already. It seems just a short time ago when Lena had found her in this very land. How time flies! “I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, it’s my home. It’s safe, it’s beautiful, and the people have accepted me as more than a simple herd mate—we’re a family. It’s wonderful to...belong somewhere,” her tone drifts off, thinking blissfully of the comfort of her beloved mountain valley.

“Speech.”