A sheen of sweat glistens like molten gold in the rise of the dawn. Brazen and glorious it ignites his flesh, drowning out the mournful blues customary to his coat.

With a start he awakens from restless slumber. A short cry pips from his gaping maw as his head thrusts first high in wariness and nerves, then low as fore hooves scrabble for balance on teetering joints. His wings flare out behind him, cupping the wind for support, but she feels absent lately. The raging sun has burned even the breeze into hiding.

Dark stains begin to pool around the feet of the gelding as he stands heaving, eyelids trying to blink away the remainders of the cruel dream. His sweat courses down his hide in streams, dripping like strange rain upon a thirsty land. The soil almost crawls closer to him in its hunger, oblivious to the salt and the sourness of this sky water.

Jaydan blows a harsh snort and pushes off the ground in an abrupt upheaval of his wings. A gentle breeze caused by his own momentum tries to chill his damp body. His nape prickles at the sensation. Against his horn the pendant swings, catching the light just right sometimes. Jaydan flies on, hasty to retreat from the spot where such dark thoughts dwell.

The arrival of the crow-feathered stranger is a blessing to the troubled jay. Though he flew as fast as he could, Jaydan could never outfly his mind and it had begun to spiral back down to her face. Roughly he shoved the memories away, eyes narrowing as he watched the ebon figure land. Work, work will keep him busy. He can hope at least.

Wings tuck faintly to his sides and Jaydan tilts down in a mild dive, sweeping safely above the stranger before angling back on a dipped wing and touching down to the red dirt with hind feet first. His wings gather his balance as fore hooves meet the land once more, feathers rustling as he folds them against his backside in a loose and disorderly manner. He's in store for a good grooming, having let his personal hygiene go with his constant state of anxiety or crushing grief.

Dull, blue eyes rise to meet the stranger's gaze. Despite everything, Jaydan manages to keep his head high, though it is a tiring ordeal. A stride or two brings him a comfortable distance to the crow, and he regards the other for a moment before dipping his head acutely in measured greeting. He is not familiar with this pegasus and though he has yet to meet everyone of the herd, this territory looks just as unfamiliar to the stranger. Jaydan takes a moment to gather his tongue, not being fluent yet in the language spoken here. He's not prone to being much the talkative type anyway, but this meeting would likely go south if he didn't say something, and soon.

"Warrior, day good." Jaydan begins, smiling in the hopes to reassure whatever he might say incorrectly. "Jayden of Fire Mouth." He introduces himself, wings spreading slightly as he dips his head low. "Are hurt?" Jaydan asks with concern on his voice, muzzle extending out by method of pointing at all the scars that line the other's body. In many ways Jaydan is excited for them. Warriors he tended to understand better, having been raised with them. He knows too Kri needs them badly for the herd. Yet it it makes him equally as wary, unsure if this is a rogue marauder come to slaughter the herd. Though he's provided kindness, Jaydan has not relaxed and his eyes weigh with scrutiny.