From his vantage point on a small but risen timber-topped hill Tilney took in the new sights, smells and noises of the Secret Grove. Since his introduction to Helovia and the Hidden Falls he hadn't quite been able to contain his wanderlust, and so headed east from his new home.
He had heard of this place already he thought, Assuming it was one of the countless pieces of information Africa had briefed him of before his entry into the Hidden Falls. The secret grove, a secret place for lovers to retreat to. He hoped his wandering would not disrupt any precious moments or disturb the secrecy or privacy of the place as a whole.

Bronze ears twisted on top of his poll, twitching at a soft patter he was hearing. He could hear the clatter of a stone skidding and falling, and on the other side of the lakes shore he saw a gentle splash.
Cloven hooves carried him downwards, now into the grove. Shrouded by trees he crept slowly around the ponds front. His eyes eyed the area he was sure the pebble had dropped and slowly he allowed a hoof into the water, dropping his bronze bodice in, and began to wade to the very spot he had seen its tumbling journey end.

The pebble was just one among thousands of others on the pools deep platform. His curious mind could only tell the pale pebbles from the brown, not which one had suspiciously fallen from behind the trees and who had perhaps kicked it down.
Green eyes searched the leaves only feet from his eyes, and then foraged through them. Was that the gleam of another creatures coat he saw?

His paces into the lake had been silent, but his bounds out of the lake were the opposite. I can see you! The young stag thought as he bounded from the pond, long socked legs kicking the water up as he bolted against a willows rubbery branch. It snapped against his racing, saturated form and as he sprung the colourful fae he also managed to spray what seemed like half the pools water over her vivid coat.

"Hello!" Tilney bellowed. It had completely slipped his young mind that this place was where the Helovian inhabitants came for privacy. Not to play hide and seek. A laugh had escaped his browned muzzle which was painted with a marvelous grin. Eyes flicked over the mare, her small pile of pebbles and her sleepy slouch between the willows. She had a coat which reminded him of incredible sunrises; and He had never seen anything like it. It was beyond beautiful.

It wasn't uncommon for a stallion of his young age to daze or choke up when in the presence of a mare. This one had him struck for a few moments.
"s-sorry I splashed you" he managed to blab.

= @[Keidajen] =