He continues to eye her warily, sweat beading out on his skin beneath the layers of rain-created moisture. She speaks, her voice unlike anything he's ever heard before - her tone is kind, but the words are unique, queer, clipped and Shakespearean. "G...glad to hear it," he says, teeth still chattering from a combination of the cold and his fear. His sodden tail swishes limply, pathetically, behind him, and his warm brown eyes are filled with abject misery. What he wouldn't give for a snuggly stable and the attentions of a human to care for his every whim...
The mare introduces herself and her fish, revealing that the stag has no name. "He's...he's made of fire," observes the gelding, somewhat dumbly. "How?" She suggests they find shelter and he nods so vigorously his neck cricks - that's the best idea he's heard all day! But where? The trees nearby have begun to shed their leaves, and thus give scarce shelter from the hammering rain. "Where would we go?" he questions. At this moment in time, he'd follow her like a foal at his dam's heel if she could lead him to shelter and warmth. "I'm Badger," he adds as an afterthought.
Just then, another arrives. Despite himself, the black's face splits into a goofy grin when he sees a mare who is decidedly equine and - what's more - her sides are swollen with child. Oh, he loves foals! Their innocence is endearing, and he does love the way they play so freely, their spirit not yet broken by human nor life itself. "Oh, you're pregnant!" he says gleefully, his misery momentarily forgotten as he eyeballs the mare's belly happily. New life! He might not be able to create it himself, but he can still appreciate it. "Congratulations!" He shuffles aside to make room for Mrs Waddles, always a gent around the pregnant ones. He'd been kicked in the face far too many times to deny a pregnant mare anything she wants.
"It's nice to meet you too. I'm Badger." He's unsure whether to introduce Laedere too, as he doesn't know her well at all - he declines for now, so as not to be rude. He looks between both mares with hopeful brown eyes, praying one or the other will either invite him home or show him to shelter.
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