"My name is Rishima. Nobody here will hurt you."

I am glad I told Kali to keep you away from this. The colt shivers upon the ground, far too young to understand the mess he has been born into, an innocent in all this. His fear is justified, I suppose; I do not know what stories the unicorns tell about us, but I imagine they are not so far from those we whisper of them. Enemies since before our children were born, we are parents dragging our progeny into a war no one can win. Shamelessly we fuel the hatred within the hearts of our youth- yea, even we who call ourselves all-accepting do this, we who hold ourselves above the standards of our enemies. No, we have not killed in cold blood, and I have not forgotten the deaths - Solstice, Torasin, horses I once called friend now broken and bleeding upon uncaring ground. Those atrocities do not rank upon our list of sins.

These do.

Tandavi, I keep you away because you would not understand, just as this colt does not understand. You sleep in a cave and dream children's dreams, your imagination running rampant with dragons and magic and gods know what else, while Kali watches over you with a watchful eye. I never want you to experience the fear I can feel radiating off this bloodstained child. It's so tempting to tap into his soul, get a glimpse of everything going on inside him, but I resist. You hate it when I look into you. I don't want to do anything to frighten this damned innocent any further. I don't even want to be here. How does one talk to a child who has no idea of the sins committed by his family, the crimes passed down through his blood? Hell, how does one talk to a child?

I imagine it's you, and will my voice to be gentle. Deep. Soothing. The voice I use when I want you to sleep. "I wish I could tell you that we brought you here for a good reason, but I cannot." I sigh, shifting, ivory forelock falling into my dark eyes. One of the colt's ears is red. It reminds me of you. I focus on that and go on. "You're part of a war that started long before you were born. All of us are. Your herd hurt us, and so we've hurt them back by taking you. It's not a nice thing; it's petty. A stupid battle for a stupid time. But such is life." Does he understand? I imagine you would, but then again I always project an intelligence upon you that I'm not sure you possess. Perhaps I am simply scaring him further. How should I know? It is long since I was a child.

I am trying to be kind. "I've told you my name. How about you tell me yours?" The child's name does not matter, but giving him some importance does. I've been careful to stay back from him, to give him space to acclimate; I could easily run him down should he attempt to run, though I'm not sure I would want to. Now I take a step forward, letting the moonlight fall across me, bounce upon my mane and dance down my tail. I do not like to think of how I look to him, even as I try to offer an encouraging smile. I have been called imposing, authoritative, intimidating, even attractive - but not for a long time have I been accused at putting others at ease. Still, you have softened me up a bit in the seasons since your birth, my little Tavi; perhaps I can project some of that softness into the impression I give this colt. One can only hope.

@[Sacre]
[ ooc | Sorry this took so long Imi! Rishi's be taking over as Sacre's guard since Whit's got a lot on her plate right now. ]