It was only seconds that passed, trickling by like a creek choked by sharp rocks and twigs, and throughout those precious seconds, Grimalkin’s sharp senses gave him much to learn and decipher, to digest and mull, chew and postulate. His ears, their tips rubbing against the broad base of his antlered prongs, pricked with expectant interest at the filly before them, his nostrils bathing in what little scent the breeze could offer him. Certainly he could not learn much, for he was no predator nor carnivore like the tigress beside him – he had no need to understand the subtleties that blood could offer, though he could see their uses, he simply did not hold the right wiring within his cranium to decipher such things.

Perhaps, in a land like Helovia, such things could be rectified.

Another arrives, a mare (whom he should probably have recalled from the meeting, but all he felt was annoyance at the way she inserted herself into the situation like they weren't handling it). Grimalkin knew how to use words to his benefit, he knew how to charm and manipulate - perhaps it was to his detriment that he did not see the use of such tools in this situation. Perhaps it was a mark of his good judgement. Either way, the mare had spoken now, and her soothing, maternal actions seemed to have spurred the youth before them into sudden animation - too many words all fell out of her mouth at once, and she finished with a question that caused the brute's muscles to stiffen upon his frame suddenly.

Entrance? She wanted entrance into the Basin? The steed was not racist, but nor was he stupid - there were no creatures with wings striding within their borders.

A strange sensation nearly overwhelmed the titanic steed then. A sense of his life suddenly yet slowly, steadily leaking from his body, a leech drinking his blood, a vampire sucking the life from his veins. The chocolate brute took a deep, shaky breath as the Lord of their home approached, resonating tones rolling over the small crowd before them. Though he felt like his life had just been suspended by the Lord's presence, he found himself growing used to it after some time - he recovered in a matter of seconds, returning to the solid, titanic beast that he was mere moments before. It was almost imperceptible, the change that had swept over him, but he knew those who shared his home were sharp and keen; they would likely know of his momentary weakness, and he hated it.

A small huff exited his nostrils, his unimpressed feelings making themselves apparent as he considered the words of the tigress. "What do you wish to learn?" Vocals were tightened by his thick accented tones; he had picked up on his Lord's mistrusting state and so continued along his original plan, despite Hotaru's presence and attempts at niceties. His question was not kindly asked, but rather posed with a dry sense of challenge - what exactly did this winged flicka want? There was no time like the present for the young belle to learn how to explain herself more thoroughly in the presence of those who could wield one's fate.

[ Sorry about the wait.
@[Hotaru] ]

colourize-stock & larfsalot @deviantart