The battle hawk doesn't understand adults. Truly, they are unruly and undeserving of their complex brains, in his childish opinion. He simply loathes the idea of growing up, if only because all the adults in his life seem so bitter and entitled to their petty little grudges.

All of this comes from the fact that his mother was loathe to share any information regarding Tilney, and Gawen was bound and determined to find out everything about his idol - from the stallion's favorite grazing spot, to favorite songbird, to everyday habits. Let it be said that Gawen does nothing by halves. When Gawen had a fascination, he went after it much like falling down a well - all at once and usually causing bodily harm on the way down.

So Gawen resorted to stalking his favorite Doctor. Okay maybe not favorite because Gawen had stalked, accosted, and begged all of the healers except Evangeline so far. And Lyanna was kind of his favorite, because she was like a mom, considering her scent was ingrained into his little brain having been at his birth, and of course she also always allowed him to get away with stuff. Which was suh-WEET. But still, Gawen idolized Tilney. He was the reason Gawen continually begged for a cape from Raeden (which she always said no to, thanks mom), and why he wished he'd been born with green eyes instead of blue. Because Tilney was cool and he had a lantern and he spoke pretty and he was MAUDE'S DAD.

In short, Gawen pretty much had a puppy crush on Tilney, and would gladly hoist the stallion upon a pedestal until the day he died.

No Gawen didn't know why he liked Tilney so much, but Gawen also didn't pay attention to that kind of stuff. Gawen was, in some ways, very primordial. While undoubtedly an intellectual with his thirst for knowledge and endless curiosity, Gawen never took the time to understand the meaning behind mothers and fathers. Lyanna and Tembovu were mother and father to him just as Raeden was, simply because their scent had imprinted upon him at birth. Gawen similarly never questioned his gut instincts, and didn't think too deeply on why he felt things the way he did.

Which leads us to here.

Gawen badly trying to tail the tree-marked Doctor, doe-eyed and jelly-limbed as always. But this time he had a plan okay? He was actually going to talk to Tilney. And he meant it this time! No more wimping out!

So Gawen did as Gawen does and went leaping out of the snow towards the antlered stag, parading around in the snow with bright eyes and a wavering, nervous smile.

"HI DOCTOR TILNEY!" he pretty much shouted in the poor brute's face, wings fluttering like a nervous bird at his sides. Then he realized what he'd done and promptly withered like a moon flower beneath the sun, one hoof trailing nervously through the snow as he stared at the ground. You're such an idiot Gawen why do you even talk?! his thoughts whined. "I-I was wondering...if you were busy?" Nice save, kid.