The sound of hoofbeats shortens their wait and Sloene is glad, turning to smile at the mare who has brought them here. The youngster at her side is not as quick to smile as Scorch arrives, her silver eyes that match her mother’s widening at the sight of the stranger. But – mother had told her to be polite, and perhaps there had been a little extra in that command; anyway the girl wavers for a moment but in the end the fact that the mare has a nice voice and is smiling wins out and she smiles back, even if it’s a little hesitant, and nods. She cavorts a little ahead and behind of Scorch and Sloene as they walk, smelling the ground and the air, wishing she was not in horse form.
Scorch speaks of what role Sloene might play in Nerine and she hesitates, her walk even pausing for a heartbeat, but before she can decide what to say or not to say, both sets of silver eyes are drawn to the filly who approaches. “Hello, Philomena,” Sloene greets the filly with a gentle smile and the girl starts to nearly vibrate with excitement beside her. “Hi! I’m Sochi! Yeah, we’re going to live here!” she leans forward eagerly, excited at the prospect of a friend to play with. “Do you know how to play hide and seek? And tag?” She is burbling in excitement but Sloene interrupts her tirade with a careful touch to the girl’s dark upright mane. “Don’t go too far, Sochi. Not until you know your way around.”
She feels comfortable to leave the girls to their play, certain they won’t wander too far, and turns back to Scorch. “I’m not much of a fighter. I think I could be an excellent diplomat with some practice.” Another pause, and Sloene just decides to go for it. Perhaps she never felt at home in Tephra because she had tried to be something she wasn’t. If she was true to the Sloene her adoptive mothers had created, perhaps she would find a purpose here. “Actually, my adoptive mothers trained me to be a spy. I have talents that make that especially well-suited for me.”