Stone Circle cross my heart and hope to die

The shrill sound of her name had her pause as she neared the herds, twisting her head back instinctively to find the source of the sound and suppressing a yelp as her scabs cracked and oozed. Instead, an odd strangled sound escaped her muzzle, and she straightened out her neck and turned her whole body around to discover the source of the sound. She recognized the voice before her gaze even fell on the svelte dark form of Steph, and her tail wagged tiredly as a small smile curved her muzzle, though tired. 

 "hi, Steph," She began, able to pull cheeriness out of the darkness in her chest. "how are you?"  She ventured next, wondering how she fared after the death of the healer; and realizing then that the must have been sisters. For wasn't the healer Valette's daughter too? Chesnut gaze swept the girl as she held her neck rigidly, at least a little glad the girl had greeted her seemingly happily.