Athenian forest.

Rima was in a good mood. Shafts of sunlight shone down onto the forest floor, and the leaves of the trees took on a curious dappled quality. She lay down at the foot of a particularly wide oak, in between the roots, and looked up at the little dust motes floating in the air. Audrey had been with her all morning, but both needed to be alone for a while.

As her eyes followed the little golden specks, a thought entered her head. Where was Natasha? Now that she had thought of it, she couldn't get rid of it and return to her empty-minded state of well being. Choma perched on one of the low branches next to her head, and they discussed where she could be.

Merlas trotted though the trees, a small, gangly black foal prancing beside her. The mare nickered softly, seemingly smiling down at her child. The specks of light danced on their coats, making them seem even more mystical than they already were.

Merlas sensed Rima first, and came face to face with her, a few metres separating them. The black mare stopped, dropping her head and snorting menacingly, pawing the ground.

Nearly all thoughts of Natasha were pushed out of her head, but she instinctively protected the reminder with a mind barrier.
'I remember you.' she said, shyly, "You're with Shadow a lot, aren't you?" She saw Merlas' little foal. "Hello. I'm Rima. This is Choma." She stroked the red kite's feathers, who gave a polite bob off his head.

Merlas' ears flicked forwards, recognising Rima's scent. She nickered gently, as if in greeting. Star, the foal, reached up to sniff at Choma, watched carefully by his mother.