Dmitri kept his eyes and ears peeled as they approached the area the mares had been found in. He was desperate for any sign of the mares’ owners. Particularly if Anya or Yevgeny were involved. He worried about his younger siblings, living in the vipers’ den known as the Capitol.
Theia came to a stop. She dug at the ground with a hoof, indicating they had arrived. Dmitri nodded. He looked around. A patch of fabric in a bush caught his eye. He dismounted and investigated. The piece of fabric turned out to be a bag. A bag that Dmitri recognized as Anya’s. His heart leapt into his throat. He returned to Theia.
“I recognize this,” he said, holding out the bag. “It belongs to my sister, Anya. The mares are certainly linked to her in some way.” Theia perked up. “Until I know what has happened and how Anya is involved, those mares are not leaving.”
As Dmitri mounted, Theia couldn’t help but feel as though she had won in some way. The mares were staying. Hopefully, she could get the mares to bond with her so that they never wanted to leave. It should be simple enough to do.