It was a rare day that Wilibald felt like exploring beyond the borders of the Falls. He had rather taken to staying there ever since Midas had led him there - half because he was certain he would never find that pathway to get back in and half because why on earth would he want to go anywhere else? At least there he felt somewhat safe. There were familiar faces though he did not know most of their names, he had the pool to tend to and guard - which usually meant slumbering next to it or nibbling on the grasses that grew beneath the trees nearby.

A momentous occasion then that he woke up from a nap and decided to do a bit of exploring. Not too much mind you - let us not get ahead of ourselves. Too much excitement in one day was bad for the digestive tract.

Now, of course he had no intention of going very far. In fact, not far at all. A path that he mistook for the one that Midas had led him down led in a far different direction. There was no waterfall on this side but instead just a mountain, leading ever upwards. It would be concerning if this was not the sort of terrain he was used to - so before long a little spring entered the pony’s stride as he sought out where it might lead. To another herd? Well he certainly hoped not. The trend of this land seemed to be that everything just got stranger and stranger and he had quite enough of that, thank you very much.

Herdland or not, what he found on the top of the mountain was quite marvellous! A hidden little field, lush with the season and almost totally vacant. That second quality being one of the best, you know. But unfortunately he was not alone entirely, there was a pair standing perilously close to the edge of the mountain. Before realizing that he was feeling curious and before he could stop that feeling because it was totally unnecessary - he was moving closer to see what was happening.

Some alarmingly foul language came out of the stallion, causing Wilibald to snort in a disgusted manner and by accident announce his presence. “There’s no need to curse! It’s a lovely day and there’s some… fine company.” Noticeable pause? They seemed fine enough. Natural colours at least. “Though, excuse me, but you’re standing awfully close to that edge.” He pointed out in a worried voice as though she wasn’t aware of that fact. Everyone knew that the large horses were by nature clumsy and a quick little slip could send her falling to a very unfortunate end!

Everyone knows that when you just feel like giving up you do so by finding a nice, quiet little spot and make your death nest so there was no need to assume that she was standing on the edge on purpose.

She seemed familiar, like he had seen her in passing. Perhaps she lived in the Falls? His tendency to avoid the other members there quite meant that he was not quite as familiar with them as he probably would if they weren’t all so frightening.


@[Delinne]

Nerves sparked up as he watched her move but, thankfully, it was away from the ledge just a little bit further. Why there were so many out there that seemed interested in flirting with all sorts of terrible, terrible dooms was beyond his comprehension. Was was the point? Did they get a rush from it? Though his herd had travelled on steep, mountainous paths they were always careful - their pudgy little bodies rooting them to the ground. It had been long before his time that the last Anduin pony had fallen anywhere.

She spoke, with something close enough to a smile, explaining what she was doing on the edge. “What an odd place to consider your options…” His voice was low there, speaking more to himself than either of them. Though they quite grabbed his attention again when the stallion spoke about how falling off a cliff would not be a good way to die. Well!! He should say not! “Oh my, certainly he is right! What could have possibly happened to make you contemplate such a horrible thing?” Was this a common affliction for the horses here? Goodness gracious when will all their odd little quirks finally level out. Life was grand!

Thankfully, the conversation turned toward a more civilized route and the little chestnut found himself in familiar territory. And it turned out that he and Delinne shared a home! Well, all the more reason that he should see her safely down from this height. He did not want to be the one to find Midas to inform him one of their Curiosus (what a curious sounding rank!) was gone. “I am Wilibald, son of Hamfast, and Storyteller in the Hidden Falls.” Though he might be a little iffy still on his newfound position - it did sound rather splendid when spoken aloud. “It is a great pleasure to meet you both!” Truthfully, or at least mostly. It remained to be seen but they were both rather pleasant so far. Wilibald did not move from his spot several paces back from the edge, not finding any desire to want to look back down where he had been before.

Attention turned to Windwalker, his tone even and polite. “I am sorry that you do not have a herd, sir.” He remembered Slaiter had no herd either and the idea seemed rather lonely. The members of the Falls might be odd, but at least they were numerous and provided protection just by existing.

Delinne gave up the story of why she was standing up here and boy, Wilibald had no idea life could be so dramatic! Nothing like this ever happened back home. And Windwalker was hardly comforting. “Not exactly the words I would have chosen.” Wilibald pointed out, finding the need to distance himself from the ineloquent phrasing that Windwalker used. He was right, of course, though he had to wonder - “What do you mean you’re the reason he died? A rather intrusive question, and I apologize for that.” Though this entire conversation was intrusive, really. But he felt as though that would help clear things up a little bit. This was all most irregular. “As for your kids, you mustn’t be so hard on yourself - parenthood is hardly easy. I gave my parents a rough time when I was young but we were able to patch things up.”

Now Wilibald’s idea of a ‘rough time’ was not likely the same as anyone else’s. He been a little wild when he was younger, before he grew out of it. Running about, always getting muddy, straying off of the path, skipping meals - he was basically a terror. Oh how the herd hated him back then before he grew into his belly. But these were the secrets of the past and no respectable pony would actually speak them out loud. Even to soothe a grieving mare.

But while they were being intrusive about just about everything, Wilibald might as well continue until they were all sure that there would be no cliff-diving today. “Suicide is… it’s not a solution. It makes any problems you might have permanent and there is no going back.” It was an ugly thing, he thought, that there was a specific term used for killing oneself - as though it happened all the time in the world outside of his happy little valleys.

On a lighter note, maybe Windwalker could accompany them to the Falls afterwards! Not the best time to bring it up just right now, however.

Well, he had asked a difficult question but she answered. Boy did she answer. He really had not expected her to, maybe there were just things that should not be spoken about. Still, it had to be good that she was talking about it, right? As hard as it seemed for her to say it, as hard as it was to hear, there it all was. The two stallions knew more about her now than Wilibald knew about just about anyone. It wasn’t in his habits to ask personal questions. These things were not spoken of back in the Anduin Valleys!

But then, no one tried to kill themselves back in the Valleys.

There was a rather disturbing urge to go over and lay a comforting muzzle on her shoulder or something but that would be extremely improper. They were hardly even friends! A bit more of a relationship was needed before he would go around, touching mares without their permission. Especially mares that were standing uncomfortably close to the edge of a cliff.

But when she turned away, looking back to what lay beyond the edge, he made a rather involuntary step forward.

He had just the right thing to say all lined up, but a disturbing outburst cut him right off! Wilibald’s eyes widened right up and he felt like he was going to have a heart attack just being in the same area as such harsh terms. “SIR!” The second time in his life he had ever raised his voice and it came out fark squeakier than he would have liked. Hardly intimidating! “I hardly think that is appropriate.” What if this disruptive atmosphere moved her back closer to the edge? Afraid of influencing her even further, his attention flickered to her but his 'rage' (if you could call it that) remained focused on their rude companion.

And what was that comment about ‘growing a pair’? “And turning into a stallion certainly won’t help matters.”

WELL things were certainly taking quite the turn. All he wanted was to gently talk Miss Delinne away from the edge, maybe make her feel a little better about everything, offer Windwalker a trip to the Falls - odd fellow as he was he would fit right in with the sorts that Wilibald had to live with every day. Yes, that would have been quite the pleasant approach. Perhaps someday (not very likely) he would see the validity of what Windwalker did and how it had worked but in the heat of the moment, the small chestnut was too shocked to form a sentence, inside his own mind or vocally.

He had never in all his years heard such anger or seen such violence. When Delinne made the first snap, why he jumped so high with shock he thought he was going to shoot clean through his skin and leave nothing but a pile of fur and piss behind.

Oh yes, so shocking was this turn of events that some faculties were loosened. He was, after all, regrettably close to the pair right when it was all starting and oh his little heart just could not take it! Confrontation!! Alert! Alert!!

He needed to get out of there. Manners would just need to be tossed to the wind. He wanted no part in any of this and, he suspected from a glance cast his way by the stallion, they wanted him to have no part either.

Though it could not accurately be said that Wilibald left without a pause. A mad scramble was made to get clear of the pair and put a small distance between them - eyes white-rimmed in fear - but then he had to go and find his thoughts again and they made him pause. It was rude to leave without first announcing one’s intention to do so… but did this pair before him really deserve to be alerted of his leaving?

Well…

As it was, very quietly that the short stallion alerted them with a hasty “... Good day then.” and with his social obligation filled, he was off. Not with a flash, mind you, and certainly not even with a bang. But he did get out of there just as quickly as those stocky little legs could manage! And with a little luck, they would not even notice that he was leaving and with even BETTER luck he would never have to set eyes on that angry mare again. Oh all that blood! So horrible!

His heart felt as though it was close to giving out, so severe was this shock. One thing was for certain, he was never going to leave the Falls again.