Watching Ilios mimic her demonstration brightens her outlook and opinion of him even more than his previous kindness. Eagerly she exclaims, “That was perfect!” Her lips curl upward in a face splitting smile. I hope he is always this way. The filly thinks to herself, hoping that the stallion will always be so friendly and nice to her. The constant ridicule under her mother’s care dampened her willingness to greet strangers as openly as she used to but since Radika’s death Hollow is relearning how to share herself with others without fear. Radika’s cruel treatment of her didn’t take away all of what makes Hollow herself and she finds herself silently thanking the gods she doesn’t know exist for that.

Her laughter fills the air as forest eyes sparkle, “You’re right! I look more like you than my real dad!” She pauses and tilts her head to one side, “Do you have kids?” Suddenly nervous about intruding on another family and not being welcome outside of his wingspan causes her to mentally shrink away. The thought is pushed back quickly though…how could anyone related to him be unkind? The ever present smile blooms on her chocolate features and she stretches out her wings once more. “Ooh, can I meet her sometime?”Her tone is lined with open curiosity as to how someone apparently so small could ever be such a good fighter.

Hollow waits for him to come too and when he sets off in the same direction she did, she giggles lightly..amused by her “mysterious knowledge” of the correct path. “Thank you Ilios!” She shouts in her usual “I’m a child and I love it” way. Briefly she wonders how long the journey will take and is sorrowful that she can’t fly and make it go faster. To her thinking it must be awful to have to walk everywhere but it is worse to have the option of flight and be unable to use it. She soaked up his words as he educated her about the various life forms they came across that he was familiar with. I never thought I would miss school! The filly smiles ruefully at the notion.

Before she knew it, her guide came to a stop and pointed off the shore. Her new home is on an island? He keeps speaking and she holds the questions forming in the back of her mind until he is finished. Unfortunately for the patient filly, Ilios immediately seeks to fly over to the island and she finds her head nodding in agreement. He takes off and she stands there on the shoreline staring at the sky anxiously awaiting his return and keeping her ears alert for any sound of trouble. As soon as he lands she flits to his side, surprised by how much she missed his presence during those short minutes. “How will I get there? I can’t fly…” Her nerves cause her voice to shake a bit but she regains control after forcefully clearing her throat. “Ilios, please don’t leave me again.” Hollow’s voice remains steady but the tone is whisper soft as she tries to press herself into his side. I guess I’m more of a chicken than I thought