Silence. The sound of heartbeats pounding a chest. Feet shuffling through a mixture of dead grass and newborn greenery, silent when treading the lush moss and ringing clearly as a bell as it smack against a rock, drumming over hollow logs in a steady rhythm. Distant still, but as moments passed it drew closer, ever closer. And then, a reply. Wordless, ageless, the deep voice of a stallion replied to the call, followed instantly by a cry that clearly didn't belong to any horse. Bright, clear as a silver trumpet it reverberated through the forest. It was the voice of something wild and untamed, a predators belligerent howl... How curious that it would respond in tune with a horse.
The riddle received an explanation in a matter of minutes. From the south and east they came, dancing through the forest like they had never done anything but traverse these parts, illuminated by the thin rays of gilded light that glittered and gleamed on its way down past spring green leaves. It highlighted the curious pair where they came; the stallion trotting at a steady pace, weaved from silver and gold and the palest ivory and accompanied by what could only be described as a dragon. Small, pale, as pure and white as the snow that still lingered in the deep shadow beneath some trees, they could have been stolen from some fairytale, set loose in the mortal world to accomplish some heroic task.
Only, when they noticed the presence of the winged lady and slowed down, they somehow seemed very alive, very mortal. The white-maned equine seemed slightly out of breath as if he had been running for some time, and the dragon appeared delighted when she landed atop his whithers - careful not to allow her talons close to fresh, apparently sore scars that run across the shoulders. He wore a curious expression as he walked towards her, ears pricked forward and with a kind smile tugging at the sooted lips. Before he got so close that his presence could startle her - if she wasn't startled already - the knight stopped, head dipping into a very polite half-bow.
"Hello there. Pardon me if I'm wrong, was it you that called just now? If not, I'm sorry to have disturbed you." The voice was the same as when he'd responded to her call. Even, deep, a melodious voice both gentle and warm. Politely he kept his distance, only allowing the golden gaze to intrude upon her as it roamed her chestnut frame for clues as to whom she might be.
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