The way they leap to their own defense, the abrupt anger at my suggestion and refusal to even consider it - it amuses me, and at the same time I want to strangle them both. There is no sign, of course, except for the low growl Kali emits from near my hooves. I watch the stallions through bland black eyes and suppress my desire to laugh. Hush, Kali, I cautioned in silence, although her defensive mood only seemed to heighten my own dry mirth. The inability of stallions to even consider the weight of the words offered to them by strangers, the possibility of some flaw to their logic... well, who doesn't find that entertaining?

And it seemed Mauja remembered me, if his great hostility was anything to go by. Alas, that in such little time I had managed to gain infamy within Helovia. I took no pleasure in the recognition - anonymity was not something I felt any happiness at relinquishing. At least Mauja seemed the only one to know or care who I was. The other two, equine and pegasus, remained mute as I spoke, offering neither agreement or disagreement, only increasing my irritation at the very fact that I stood here. And the last, the unicorn with the jagged horn? It was an interesting change that came over him as he responded, a sudden and abrupt separation of he and us that nearly caused me to recoil in surprise. When had he developed such presence, and is this what caused the others to gather so? Who was this black and white stranger - and what?

It took seconds for me to grapple with my curiosity and return to the pressing issue of whether or not I really wanted to argue my point. They had done nothing to convince me, simply stated comments on my inaccuracy, stomped on the suggestion I placed and denied any truth to my words. I kept my gaze on his as he stared me down, matching dark eyes with dark eyes, and for the first time in a long time I felt intimidated.

Odd.

"And yet isn't snow and ice always new, melting into the ground as fresh flakes cover it from above? Time changes it enormously. I would call that volatile, or at least a volatile aspect to what is otherwise a constant tundra." Foolish girl, learn to keep your mouth shut. I let my gaze drift from Mauja, who Kali stood glaring at from the cold ground, to the pegasus and equine, and back to the strange unicorn who caused all that fuss. There is no anger in my voice, simply open curiosity, the slightest hint of a challenge; I will not stoop to their games.

You already have.