Somehow, they’d managed to re-direct the whole flock. The girl found their hooting and hollering amusing, perhaps comical – unfamiliar with their vocalization. Not that she intended to copy these noises; they were far too obnoxious for the girl to consider. Perhaps if she felt silly enough, she might try it – one day.

As they pressed on she realized the creatures’ change in behavior. Once active and spurred on by the fear of their presence, they seemed to simultaneously slow and tire of their presence. A wonder that they couldn’t just fly the rest of the way there. And they should have, being birds and all. Clearly they were incapable of doing it within long distances.

A set of chirps exited her maw as the group came to a halt. It hit her; the silliness of it all, of course there was a river! She’d taken a drink from that very river! Watched it and trailed its body with her eyes from the sky!

What nonsense was this, really? They’d all forgotten about it; and as the mare trotted forwards, she could make out the ice enclosing the raging current underneath. A wistful sigh flung into the air.

The heated tunes of the foxes snapped Ru’s eyes upon them. Ears brought forward, alerted by their arguing. Three options remained hanging in question. To risk losing a vast number of the flock, and possibly separating a majority of the horde - lets say only half make it before the ice cracks and gives - would be too risky. Considering the large forms of the other earth-bound equines…

And to loop all the way around would cost time, time that the creatures clearly didn’t possess. Her gaze swept over the flightless birds, having very little faith in their stamina. Surely it wouldn’t do well to loose them to fatigue. And they couldn’t quite carry them all one by one – there was too many to count.

The middle ground appeared most appropriate to her, the losses could be evened out, less risk – though enough to keep them wary of the approach. And less time to loose; which led the young mare to believe it was the best of both worlds.

As Vesper spoke up, she reared and called in agreement. Nodding her head firmly as she settled upon the frosted ground. Opening her wings to intimidate restless deserters.

[RU chooses to FIND a shorter path!]