If Valka noticed any of the tension simmering beneath Snö’s quiet greeting, she quickly tossed her doubts aside. Friend, said the other mare – and certainly they were friends, now! In silence, Valka glowed. ”Our home is everything I ever dreamed,” she answered. Valka nodded just a little to herself content that everything made sense here, falling into its proper place. She continued to glance up at the dark mare every now and then, however, and stood staring furtively at the stranger when Snö’s reprimand fell on her ears.

A jerk of Valka’s head and the earthy color of her left eye pinned to Snö’s pale coloring. She smells of Basin? wondered Valka. Her limbs shuffled a little underneath her – was she so careless? Ought she smell strangers more thoroughly? One ear twisted back in answer to this thought. Valka said nothing, though; within her the desire to please fought hard against indignation. She ought to learn from Snö, she knew, and take the rebuke as a chance to improve. All the same, she wanted to cry that it was not fair. Sour note dampening her mood, the tall mare watched her friend follow smoothly behind the black mare. Fine, rang the thought – resentful. It had better be somewhere good. At least Valka’s long strides easily kept pace.

Her anger faded as they moved. Soon the brush closed in and irritated, Valka tucked her chin against her chest. Branches scraped like predatory claws along her spine. They were dull, but still prickled a feeling like that of a hunted beast into the corners of her mind. This is a stupid trip, she thought, and her tail flicked angrily behind her. Whatever did this ‘pert’ mare want? Valka chanced a look at Snö, still a little upset but rapidly more curious. Didn’t the trip feel strange? A little… ominous? Valka’s ears twitched; maybe she imagined things. She had felt danger in the dark before that didn’t lurk at all. At last a noise like clear bells reached her ears, and the mare’s head lifted a bit as she recognized it for water.

“Look,” the black mare bade them. Valka’s ears pitched forward. Curiosity made her obedient, and so she came beside the black mare and looked down: at water running fast and bright along the ground. ”What is it?” The question sprang from her lips unbidden, a thought given form. Excitement ran below the low tone of her voice, replacing any bitterness she felt before. A special stream? Something important? Valka turned to look for Snö, eager to see her friend’s reaction.