“Wh-what?” Darkblaze said. “How do you know? What’s happening?”

The dappled mare smiled at the black foal. “Would you direct me to your over-stallion? I’d like to tell him so that he can tell the rest of the herd at once.”

“Um, we don’t have an over-stallion,” Darkblaze said hesitantly.

Starfall frowned slightly. “Then how does your herd run?” she asked.

“We have a council, like River Herd in the Trap,” said Rainstone, tired of the two of them talking in between her.

Starfall looked at the dapple gray mare. “I’m sorry, but I was talking to your son,” she said curtly.

Rainstone was offended by her comment and replied stiffly, “Oh? If I am not to be included, then you can go where I can’t hear you.”

Starfall realized her mistake and replied hastily. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

Rainstone nodded in acceptance, but before she could say anything, Starfall did.

“Actually, I think we’ll do that. Let’s go over here,” she said, beckoning to Darkblaze. The black foal followed the dappled mare, and Nightpearl, who had been watching, followed as well.

When Starfall judged that they were a reasonable distance from the foals’ parents, she turned around to face them. She hadn’t realized that Nightpearl had joined them, but she hid her surprise and drew breath to start talking.