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Petra had heard the cry to gather from a familiar voice, and moved with the others to a mound of earth where the painted queen and a buckskin stallion she took to be the king stood. As the herd assembled she took note of all the unfamiliar faces, tentatively taking up a place in their circle standing between two strangers. Kahlua looked quite altered since she had seen her last. The queen's face was tired, her very stance echoed a sense a exhaustion and defeat. This was not the bright, sunny mare that had rescued Petra from the Threshold. Kahlua spoke, and it soon became evident the source of all her worries: she had been betrayed, and Petra's heart went out to her.
The tall, buckskin mare listened to each member of her new herd in turn, as they all weighed in on the important matters at hand. She allowed herself to settle back, her hooves sinking deep into the earth beneath her, intent on taking the measure of each of those assembled. Her eyes bounced from one to another, following the sound of the voice that spoke. Sentiments varied widely it seemed, there was not a consensus immediately evident. The unicorn stallion she had met earlier seemed to have sound judgment; Petra approved and concurred. While she listened, she hemmed and hawed, debating in her mind whether or not to voice her opinions. Her voice, given its relative newness, might be of little consequence she thought, but this might be a way to introduce it to the herd.
Petra waited until most of the others had spoken, still gauging the overall mood and feelings of everyone. Then, she cleared her throat and raised her head as she stepped forward out of her relaxed posture, drawing herself up to her full height. In a rich tone she spoke out: “I am new to this land, and do not know the entire history of it as of yet, nor do I have much knowledge of the mare being spoken of. However, mercy and justice are qualities to be sought. The law of the land must surely be followed, even for those who might be considered unworthy of such consideration. Perhaps it is in those cases especially that reason and justice should prevail, lest we allow ourselves to be ruled entirely by sentiment.” She paused, stopping to look some of her herdmates in the eye. “As to the issue of alliances, the goal I believe is peace. If we approach other herds with nothing but paranoia and suspicion, we are then reduced to a cycle of bad relations and no peace is achieved. Let us then approach them with open arms and conduct ourselves with honor. If they make an alliance in bad faith, we can at least be assured of our own good intentions. Lead this land with a noble and honest example so that everyone else may follow.” Finished with her address, she stepped back to hide amongst her herd, hoping her calm and reasoned response was well received.
Petra walking. Petra thinking. Petra talking.
Image Credits
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[O] Brokenhearted Aftermath [Mandatory Herd Meeting]
