To you, it feels like hours trickling by - as slowly as the water which drips from the ceiling of your nest beneath thick mountain rock. It is not nearly so tedious though. You call and call, but no one comes - well, not at first. True to your minuscule age, you expect innocently that trees will bend and wind will swirl to accommodate your needs; that hoards will spill as good as instantly to remedy your pains. It strikes bother through your anticipating, restless mind when neither of these occur, and with golden eyes wide, you turn around. There is movement through the trees off to one side, and you quickly pin point your tiny nose in that direction. Readily, and with a thundering heart, you stare towards that spot which seems a little darker than the rest - the movement seems to stop altogether, but the smear lingers. One fine ear swivels backwards as your helpless companion whimpers, but you are determined and never sway your focus.

Eventually, and much to your delight, another horse does step from the thick tangle of shadow and timber at a canter. She pulls to a halt before you, fail-looking legs trembling and flinching in wake of her exertion, and a bright smile radiates through your lifting expression. “You came!” you cry out quickly, falling quickly beneath the spell of perhaps the loveliest eyes you have ever encountered. Quietly you stare, wading beneath rims of thick mascara-black, and it is only the stutter of words thereafter that pull you clear of their enchanting depth. The smile weakens across your thin inky lips, but does not vanish altogether. Though your knees sting and bleed (a little), they are certainly not the greatest of your concerns. You roll your tongue as though to speak, but instead your skull bounces briskly in response. Yes, you think, but the pretty stranger is speaking to you already again.

Words tumble from her mouth like water from the taller, rugged cliffs back home, but even though both ears have fixed upon her, you make very little sense out of that which she asks. Quietly you watch and your tail flicks behind you as you set your mind to unravelling the mystery. “Ma!” you cry out prematurely, but quickly follows a stern “no…” For about the first time in this solitary adventure, your mother’s whereabouts are not your priority. Bright eyes scrabble left as your flightless, partly feathered wings splay from your shoulders. You will show her what you need! “Bird,” you explain, grazed knees bending as your neat, petite hooves bounce nearer to the puppy. “Bird’s ‘ungry.” Of course you are hungry too, but you depend on the rich milk of your mother - a Kitsune could be nourished on any number of nature’s fine delicacies.

Another voice breaks your train of thought and you turn promptly to meet the gaze of your second newest friend - Ze-ro easily took first and best place. Again delight spills across your slim, white face, and shining milk teeth flash vividly in the sunlight as your smoky black lips pull away. He explains quickly and kindly on your behalf that it is in fact your parents (the words always escapes you), whom you search for - or were searching for. You try heartily to direct the pretty pink, speckled stallion’s attention to Bird. “Bird!” you insist, dark lips ghosting across the soft, downy white coat of the hatchling. “Birds ‘ungry!” The little creature whimpers softly, weakly, responding to the sound of her bonded’s voice. Tiny white face turns slowly towards the sky and gleaming green eyes absorb the gathering of great horses above. ’S’ok, you tell her tenderly.