There must have been a lot of traffic on the mountain paths that day. How they had failed to notice one another before was a mystery, and one that likely would remain as such. Erthë at least was too busy being surprised as the black-coated, white-and-red haired boy came skidding towards her. It was the first time she ever saw anyone her own age and his fitting size paired with the radiant, bubbling enthusiasm earner her instant approval. The filly skipped out of the way rather deftly as mud splashed everywhere, and with the still pristine wool gleaming in the sunlight she gave him a smile...

... and caught sight of the bear. The terrified shriek rang all across the meadow as she staggered backwards, the pain rising in her blistering legs along with the growing fear. It was as though she could feel the burn of sizzling blood splashing over her all over again, echoes of the sensation evoked all across the neck, the face, in the milky, leaking eye that did not see. This bear was not the same as the one she had seen but it was similar enough, and Erthë would have none of it.

Ah, but she wasn't the only one screaming. Suddenly there was a puppy in their midst, and before Erthë could say or do anything Vlasi had leapt in, rattled by the raised voices and barking at the top of her lungs at the bear, the wolf, the colt and the yearling that came hurrying towards them. With all three heads. She had firm instructions to keep the child safe, and now there were foes and strangers all over!

"No..." the icy girl said, rather feebly at first but more fiercely once the cacophony somehow managed to get her nerves to settle. Why was it that the distress of others helped calm her down? "Vlasi, NO. BAD, come here!"

She had none of the understanding for the shape-shifter that her father possessed. Vlasi was not her companion, nor was she big enough to really put herself in respect with it. Yet some of her determination must have shown through in her voice and stance, because after a few final yaps and skips the Cerberus came bounding back, all three tongues dangling out of the mouths. Each head looked equally pleased with itself, and no matter how sternly she looked at her Erthë couldn't make the dog look ashamed.

Still wary of the bear she looked back up at the others, hoping the chaos would die down.

"It's just Vlasi" she eventually said, belatedly replying to the colt's question as though nothing had happened. "Why does that bear follow you? They're dangerous you know!"

It was all rather overwhelming. Her quiet, solitary excursion had turned into a riot and she had a feeling the situation had long since slipped out of her control. Even as she spoke a green eye darted curiously towards the older girl, shyness setting in because of the superior age.

"I'm Erthë. Who are you?" Let's start from the top and see if she couldn't get this all to make sense.