'Oh look, the weather suits your personality perfectly today!' Sabel groaned through the bond, feet dragging at the ground so they left unmistakable prints in the snow. She had given up on caring if they were followed or not. Besides, the lynx was blind. If there was a creature anywhere near them, then she'd smell it before it saw the unlikely pair trudging through the snow in the pale hour of morning. Sabel found this mission of sorts dull and unneeded - a definite waste, though for her bonded, it was a different story. The cold chilled him, but brought a new sense of liveliness as well.
'You're just unhappy about getting up early,' Note snapped, flicking his long, dark gray tail at the cat who followed in his wake. The stallion hadn't told her where they were going or why. This information was to be kept a secret, for he knew it was a foolish endeavor to invest his time in.
The dusty bay stallion, so cold and remote, was on a hunt for his daughter. He hadn't seen the filly in months. The filly could be dead, though knowing the protective nature of Sohalia, this was unlikely. Even with this knowledge, Note kept it in the back of his mind as a possibility. He just had to remember he wasn't looking for a filly with wobbly legs and a rough coat, he was looking for someone a bit older. Skysong would be around a year by now. It's crazy how time flies when you're not there to fly with it.
Note had decided to start his search in the Threshold. It was an unlikely place for any being to reside in, but it was a start nonetheless. The dusty bay started his mission as early as possible, knowing she would be easier to find in the light rather than the ever consuming darkness of night. He had almost considered flying, but this would take a great deal of effort. It was far too early in the morning for flight, and taking into consideration the fact that he hadn't flown in months, a risky activity to pursue while still partially asleep.
So the dusty bay stallion continued forth on foot, eyes peeled for any signs of a light-colored champagne filly.
'Something - someone. Small. Filly. Left.' Sabel spoke, freezing in her tracks to look forward and to the left. Hope swelled in Note's chest at the words, anxiously flicking his long tail. This small one could possibly be his little Skysong.
The bay trudged along carefully until he broke out into the open, his eyes falling upon a yearling. It was small, a filly like Sabel had said. She was of a rosy color, though, and lack Skysong's characteristic wings. Note's heart, what was left of it, at least, crumbled. His hopes had been up for nothing.
This filly looked as if she needed help, her scrawny body digging at the ground for some source of grass. Perhaps he should help her, while he was here.
"Hey there, I'm Note and this is my bonded, Sabel," Note spoke, his voice uncharacteristically soft, as well as his eyes. The stallion just couldn't deny the soft spot he had for foals and youngsters. Sabel purred next to his silvery hooves, her sightless eyes seeming calm and welcoming as he spoke her name, ears perking up as if to say, 'Yes, I'm paying attention to you!'
"Could we be of any assistance to you?"

The filly was incredibly startled by their presence. She leapt, eyes scanning over both Note and Sabel as her scrawny sides heaved. A small smile tugged at the stallion's ashen lips at the sight. He had genuinely caused her a great deal of surprise.
"I... I... um.. well, I.."
The nervous words poured from her lips, shaking during this time. Pity replaced the humor that filled Note. He began to wonder if it would be inappropriate to brush the filly underneath his wings, just to cuddle her. Give her a bit of warmth. She looked like she needed it.
"I'm slightly lost... I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere,"
Note picked his head up at the words, giving her a look that said, 'Yeah, right.' He wasn't going to question her just yet. But with that accent, whatever it was, she was definitely more than slightly lost.
The stallion advanced slowly, opening his wings with each step. 'Stay back, Sabel,' Note warned, stopping a foot or two away from the young filly. The cat grudgingly obliged, staying seated a few paces away from the others with a calming look painted upon her features.
"C'mon, I can take you somewhere safe. Then maybe you'll be able to figure out where you got turned around," A laugh poured from Note's lips as he spoke the last words, giving her a wink. "Or you can stick with me," He added, extending one of his large hawk-like wings out to the filly in a welcoming way, as if he wanted the filly to huddle under the appendage, at least, for warmth.
The kid reminded him a lot of his daughter. Perhaps it was the fact that they would be about the same age, or the that they shared a light colored coat. Whatever it was, the likeness caused Note to be much kinder to the filly than he would normally be to any other horse. Or maybe he was just losing his tough-guy exterior. As if he hadn't lost it already.
"What's your name?"

To Note's utmost surprise and pleasure, the filly moved into his grasp. It took everything he had to keep his wings from igniting with fire at her soft touch. The filly was nervous enough, and no doubt shocked by his existence, flaming wings would be all too much at one time for one so innocent.
Ah, yes, that was it. Innocence. The innocent look this filly portrayed was what Note felt like she shared with Skysong. He was foolish to not realize it before. The dainty filly was like his daughter in many ways, but the innocence she masked herself with was closer to Skysong's than any other trait the pair happened to share.
"Thank you so much, Note..." the filly whispered, nuzzling her way into his body. It felt nice, having the girl close. Note pondered what to do with the child for a moment, then dismissed such a thought. He would treat the girl the same way he would've treated his own daughter. He had to.
Note bent his head down to peer at the filly, sharp green eyes gazing back the filly's own orbs that resembled his so perfectly. "You're welcome," the stallion spoke with a small smile, a sincere look crossing his features. The filly was certainly lucky to catch him in such a good mood, for the stallion was rarely this kind.
"My name is Hannelore." The filly sounded ashamed, reluctant even, to speak her name as she snuggled back into his shoulder. Note found himself incredibly curious to know why, but didn't feel this was the time or place to ask such a serious question.
"I'll call you Hanne," Note smirked boyishly, Sabel trotting over to the pair. She snaked in between the stallion's legs before pausing to sniff the filly's leg. After deciding the filly was no threat, the cat continued to rub against Note's canon bone.
"Let's go, shall we?" Note spoke, pulling his wing in close as if to shelter Hannelore from the evils of the outside world.

ooc; I'll post a thread in the sanctuary for them once hanne's rank is changed :)