The tall brutes cloven clefts dug softly into the mossy earth as he explored the darkened forest. Branches and twigs tugged at his pale, over grown locks. With some steps the surrounding tree limbs would clutch his mane as it trickled through their leaves, Pulling the ivory hair from his bronze bodice, leaving it to decorate the kindling. Shafts of light peaked between the only holes it could in the canopy, leaving streaks of gold on his bronze hide.
Tilney wondered where the birds were; He could not hear their song here. Was it too dark for them? The gloom too saddening to dorm in? He could understand, He wasnt sure he liked this setting much either. The look of effervescence in the light, the way it dappled though was something he much admired about this place.
But with every step, more trees came in to sight. There was nothing else it seemed in this dark place. No water, no places of interest. Just trees.
And so he wondered how he would ever get out, if every stick, stone and tree looked the same?

A blackened maw turned back in the direction the had come, a soft snorting sigh escaped his nostrils. Would he make it home to the basin tonight? He was beginning to fear that there was little chance of making it home before sundown, and he didnt want to be left sightless in this dim, dingy woodland.
Finally, he heard the soft chirping of a finch. He knew there had to be some kind of life here. But then there was another noise; the sharp snap of a stick under a hoof.
His nose shot in the direction of the spooky sound and he saw he was not alone. A coloured mare stood, looking just as lost as he. He watcher her closely, silently, between their barrier; a thick group of trees. She spoke, but from his distance he could not make out a single word.
"Uh, good afternoon!" Tilney chanted past the trees. His pace had quickened and soon he had scooted around their barrier, stopping only a few feet before the golden fae. A wide smile was stuck right across his cheerful countenance; he was glad to have found someone else here.

His verdent gaze took a short moment to observe the stranger. She had a pelt of many colours; gold, black, grey, and she owned vibrant blue eyes. Standing at least a hand shorter then he and with an elegant gold horn she was quite a striking young doe. The chain that hung from her horn sparked his interest, and it was a feature of hers that he eyed the most.
The stag bowed his head, his old and beaten lantern creaked and swung from his mahogany crown as he quietly acknowledged the stranger before him. "This is not an ideal place to be lost" the gentle stallion uttered. He knew he was lost but what about her; did she know a way out?

She was not a sheepish doe, nor was she bitter as so many mares he knew were. Tilney almost didnt expect her to laugh along with him and share in the joke that was being lost in this dreary woodland; most creatures of their equine kind would be quite terrified and pessimistic. Maybe she, like Tilney managed to find light in dark dark places."As a matter of fact, I am" was his reply. The bronze brute raised his head, his playful smile never leaving his ashen maw as his proud chest puffed.
She quizzed him and a laugh escaped his lips. Because some kind of animal didnt shadow him she guessed he was new. "I am new to these parts, yes."

It was easy for this stallion to be optimistic, but the darkening surroundings started to frighten him. If he was left in here blind he would not get out until morning. But how to get out was the question. He hadn't exactly been looking for a way out; really only to explore until now, now that he knew he really must be getting home.
The fae introduced herself. Rexanna. It was not a name he had heard before. "It's a pleasure to meet you Rexanna," spoke Tilney cooly "I'm Tilney."

But fear was beginning to flood him as he looked up past the canopy of leaves. Where was the sun? It was falling away, dropping rapidly from its daytime post in the sky. For a moment he was almost enveloped, entranced in the idea and fear that he would be left in this godforsaken place at night; Sightless. When he remembered that he was now in the presence of a young doe he turned his nose away from the darkening sky and back towards Rexanna. "I am sorry Rexanna, but I must be going" He huffed, stepping past her "Unless you would like to help me find my way out?" He had stopped just past her between two pines and looked hopefully her way. Normally he wasn't so abrupt, but he was frightened and he needed to get as far from this forest and close to the basin as possible.

I would love to...
She had agreed to assist him weave his way around the trees in search of a way out. Perhaps if they worked together they could find their way from the gloom of these woodlands. While it was so beautiful here, Tilney regrettably found himself wishing he had never stumbled upon it in his travels. The last of the light still cascading between each leaf and twig, there was perhaps just enough light to make it out.
"They are strange, but beautiful" Tilney agreed, his own verdent gaze flicking to his new companions aquatic coloured orbs. A sure and confident smile had found its way onto his now relaxed maw and he soon settled back into his usual optimistic demenor. Still though, the threat night posed still lingered in the back of his sore mind.

Rexanna took in the direction she said she had come from, and he did not hesitate to follow. He marched quickly, level with her shoulder. Retracing their steps seemed like the way to go. "I think I came from north too..." the bronze brute breathed, his nose turning to face the drowning sun once again. This really was such a strange place. His new friend quizzed him, asking where he called home and his broad smile widened.
"As I said I am very new to these lands. Recently though I found lodgings at the Basin. It's very nice there, I hope to call it home one day"

For a stallion who felt so deeply and invested so much emotion in all he did, It was not easy to shift to a strange place and call it 'home'. He needed family in his home; people he loved. Tilney also needed safety and security in his home, friends and community. These things he would hopefully all gain in time at the basin but he currently did not possess. This stallions loved ones were far far away and not even close to this land, his friends too. And while he felt safer then ever past the basins Sentinels and within its mountainous walls he still knew he should not give his trust to every creature within it.
"And you? Where do you call home?" Was his own queerie.