XOLANI

The scent of peppermints invades her flared nostrils as she exchanges her scent for his; she grins and bobs her head up and down, prancing in place, delight written across her features. She isn't quite sure why the stallion smells of such a delicious treat, but who would she be to question the strange magics present in this land? After all, her own coat had a mind of its own, so who was she to say that this stallion wasn't influenced by such a strange power himself?

As the colors shift on her pelt and the stallion's eyes go wide, the silent mare turns to gaze at her side, intrigued and amused to find that her body has somehow created a perfect replica of the unicorn and his bird-dog. As the steed comments on the colors and images that flare up on her hide, the mare smiles shyly, ducking her head in what can only be described as a bashful sort of way. For a moment, it appears that Johnny might actually try to touch her side, and she instinctively sucks her gut in before she realizes that she's done it (dark teal splatters her insecurity across her side). She hopes that the gesture didn't offend the stallion, particularly since she didn't have a chance to think before reacting (a blue embarrassment follows, chasing away the apprehension).

In any case, he has backed away and has gestured for her to take the lead, so she falls into a comfortable step and leads the way down the beach. The darker, morose colors that had invaded her pelt have disappeared, leaving room for the brilliant yellow of joy to appear. It is a lovely day, and Johnny is a lovely stallion; the little mare is content, pleased to have found herself a new friend on her expedition from the Dragon's Throat.

The girl shook her head in response to Johnny's query, her smile turning wry. She thought of her entrance to Helovia, how challenging it was to communicate with Ilios. In response, her coat shows an image of the Threshold in orange anticipation and green apprehension; within the image, an outline of a white equine appears, followed by a pegasus. As the two images "walk" through the Threshold forest, which gives way to sand and palms, colors begin to grow on the equine's hide. Without realizing it, the mare's memories have brought her story to life on her coat for all the world to see, even if the pictures do not divulge the identities of those involved (again, she thinks of Ilios, and the pegasus on her hide turns the bright yellow-green of love).