Uzuri made good time across the countryside, trotting just slowly enough to make sure that her jewelry didn't catch on any brambles. Her ceremonial beads and bracelets were completely irreplaceable to her. She couldn't expect the humans here to understand their symbolism well enough to replace them.
The priestess shivered as one of her forehooves kicked up a cloud of snow. She had become accustomed to many things over the course of her travels, but she did not think that she would ever get used to winter. The wonderful white dust had entranced her when she first saw it falling, but now she realized that it was a blight upon all who set eyes on it. Uzuri was freezing! All the time! And when the sun rose, it did nothing to help! What an odd pack of Spirits inhabited these wilds. They must bear some strange and ancient grudge, to chill the forests with such severity.
At least her mask and blanket protected her from the worst of the cold.
Keeping up a brisk pace helped her blood flow, so Uzuri ran steadily on, searching for something new to study amongst all the blasted ice. The mare was almost tempted to slow, find a cave, and spend the rest of her day in contemplation of mad foreign Spirits, when she caught a flash of gold out of the corner of her eye.
Well, now. She'd not seen a trinket like the one that male was wearing in all her days of wandering. Suddenly, Uzuri found the scenery quite improved.
"Good afternoon!" Uzuri called out to the stranger, as she slowed to a walk. "I could not help but notice your jewels as I was running past. The craftsmanship is quite exotic. Would you mind if I took a look?"
The priestess' lips curved into a barely noticable grin. It was nice to see a stallion who made an effort in these parts. Kawani males had very strange ideas about their place, and often did not keep up apperances as they should. Perhaps this fellow also hailed from a more civilized area.
"I dare say those stones are almost as bright as your eyes."
In Uzuri's experience, males enjoyed that sort of flattery. It went right to their pretty little heads. And why not give praise where praise was deserved?
