Aryel had almost begun to dread seeing her Commander again after the furious mare had soared off to fight for Athena's freedom. But here she was again, summoning the herd to a meeting. Swallowing her trepidation, she picked her way down into the canyon of stone waves where Kri addressed them, picking her way through the slowly-growing crowd to stand before their leader. With Java on her withers, she listened to Kri's speech.
So the Basin was beginning to make trouble again? She had had quite enough of them. She had not initially trusted Valentine, but by now, unless he was a spectacular manipulator, she was convinced he was good at heart (speaking of which, where was he?). Nevertheless, racism would not be tolerate by the roan mare.
At the mention of the Edge leader, she recalled the healer Torasin that had helped her once upon a time. If they were all as kind as he was, the Throat would have a steadfast ally. She did not consider the new Foothills horses, allies, though. Their agreement had been temporary, nothing more. She distrusted Ophelia and she distrusted the whole Grey band.
While recalling Azzuen's death brought her sadness, she perked up at the mention of a tourney to decide the new General. She might as well try her skills there. "General Aryel" seemed too ludicrous a title for the small, lean mare, but it was something to strive for, at least. She quietly disregarded her orders to travel in pairs and stay away from the northern lands, although the implied sting about her own discovery of Lana in the Basin made her scowl briefly.
"If I may speak," she called, stepping forward, "If you're sure these unicorns are planning our demise, maybe we should strike first? I don't pretend to understand politics, but if they've done enough to be considered aggressive, would retaliation be appropriate? They did kidnap Lana after Psyche agreed to a truce." More than ever, she wanted to lash out at the Basin horses, to make them pay for what they put her friends through.
Walk walk walk walk.
"Talk talk talk talk."
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[P] The Struggles of Comfort [Herd Meeting]
