No need to fight, just play the White replied cheerily as she once again swooped down towards him, this time letting her paws brush gently over his back before she darted off again to examine the arrival of yet another horned one. Lace closed his eyes as she furthered the images through her mind, showing him the black horned mare before she had come close enough for his own eyes to spot her. Why was every horse and their horn bent on coming to this place just when he was trying to relax? Even so the gray vagabond swallowed the faint annoyance over having his solitude interrupted and turned so that he could face both of the horned ones, and nodded politely in greeting to the latest arrival - a mare this time, it seemed - before he replied to Paladin.

"Well met, Paladin, and you as well, lady. My name is Lace, and my pale companion is Fajira" he inclined his head towards the sooty femme, speaking as much with her as with the stallion. "We are newcomers indeed. It has not been more than a few days since I passed through the Threshold, and so far I've only had the pleasure of pleasant encounters. Is it always this peaceful in these lands?" In his mind he tried to imagine where these Foothills might be located, but found it difficult; without stepping too close he could feel the scent of both woodlands and grass on the red-eyed one, and gods knew that he had seen plenty of both trees and grass since he arrived. The mare was different; hers was one of sand and sea, a rather becoming salt-ridden scent he had grown accustomed to during his time in the Isilme Tides. It was familiar and nostalgic, but it was indeed a different one than what he was used to; she was foreign, unknown, and his smile as he regarded her was as distant and formal as his words.

Quietly regarding these two new encounters, Lace suddenly felt a chill run across his skin, one that had little to do with the wind or the approaching bad weather. For the first time in a long while he felt alone and exposed in the company of others. These two, albeit from different herds, still had their species in common and knew of tidings and history that he had yet to learn of. What could he speak of that they would care about, what would they have to say that he wanted to bother with? He was without kin in these lands, and by rights he should remain that way. Besides, it wasn't a part of the plan to get dragged into yet another senseless war that didn't have anything to do with him. Without having to especially look for it the grulla noticed the difference in Paladin's attitude between himself and the mare. It might just be personal grudges, might be a distaste for mares in general - although Lace had never met a healthy stallion that hadn't been willing to at least look properly at one - but either way it wasn't something he wanted to get involved with.

The dragon sensed the change within him and dived down to land on the broad back and offer comfort, only to feel a gentle push in their connected mind. No This wasn't the right time or place to display weakness. Lace wasn't giving away anything of his feelings on the outside, simply kept the smiling mask that he always offered strangers. Fajira gave off a cawing sound of dismay, but for once obeyed without complaints. Instead of landing on his back she extended her wings and floated down towards the ground, where she landed and began to inch closer to the black mare, curiously wanting to examine her front hooves.