He remains silent for what feels like ages.

Onni's soft eyes watch him with a quiet intensity, clinging to the hope that he too would not abandon her. So strange, how someone that the mare hardly knew could become such an important part of her world in this moment. Small, simple conversations bringing them together. Now, fate brought this moving statue into her life. Eribor, despite all of his apparent bad qualities, had a softer personality than even Onni expected. Had she not been so consumed with her own misery, the painted mare might have wondered what changed him into the hard-faced, sour tongued stallion she met in the throat.

Looking toward him now, her blue eyes wet with the single tears that had fallen to the earth, pale face full of expectation and hope amid the sadness. For the silence, her heart seemed to halt, her breath calm and quiet.

Then, he wavered. Like rocks falling from a mountain slide, the unapproachable Eribor yielded. The edges of his expression softened, and before his mouth even opened, the painted girl knew. He would stay, at least for now. Onni's lips turn up into a melancholy smile. His words reach her easily, settling around her chest and making her feel less suffocated. Just the promise of his company, for this short period of time, was enough to alleviate the crushing feeling of loneliness. The mare had no intentions of sharing her life story with him, no intention of breaching his comfort zone. "Thank you," she says simply, like an exhale.

Wings slump from her back toward the red clay, finally finding relaxation. Lyhty, who had been relatively silent in the past few moments, hops down toward her withers and glares menacingly at Eribor, while twiddling with the small feathers of her wing joint. Slowly, she moves her eyes from his face, suddenly feeling self-conscious and aware of how foolish she must seem. Eribor must find her childish and inane, needing a stranger to keep her company. Thinking back to his description of mares, it was more likely than the alternatives. Crying, whining, and begging for him to stay - a selfish, cowardly soul.

Her eyes seek retreat in the flames of the Heart. Embarrassed and afraid to say anything, else he would fly away and leave her alone.