By the time Luca and Mavis came trotting back through the gate, half the settlement was already waiting in the square, and the other half was on the way.
"We're making horseshoes!"
Luca announced, before anyone could even ask.
"And every single one of you gets one!"
The square went up like a bonfire catching.
Cheers rose into the evening sky, hooves stamped against the ground, and voices overlapped in excited celebration.
But above the chaos, one name kept rising, repeated again and again like a prayer of gratitude.
"Mavis! Thank the heavens for Mavis!"
"As expected of our own blacksmith!"
"We always knew we could count on you!"
"Without Mavis, we'd all be helpless!"
Mavis lifted her chin in pride, her smirk stretching across her face as she basked in the adoration.
