An age had passed since the bronze had visited the Secret Grove. It was an area still mostly new to him, having only passed through it once or twice. His only memories of the green leafy trees were suprising Keidajen the coloured mare from across a pond, and slinking past lovers on his way to the Endless Blue.
Tilney found solace in these quiet trees though, it was why he had journeyed here in the first place. He had not seen Carlisle for at least three days now and as usual, he worried for her. Carlisle always found her way back to him, and he would always be left wondering how and why. Was it the birds and the trees? the animals? Did she as them for sightings of her older brother and take their direction to find him?

It was a strategy he now intended to use to find her. These past weeks since leaving the basin he had felt more lonely then ever. His marble stones carried him to the low-hanging branch of an oak and he stretched his nose up to speak to a busy grey shrike. "It's a beautiful day... caught anything nice to eat?" He spoke first, not wanting to boldly interrupt with his question. The small grey bird puffed his chest and danced down the branch, edging close to Tilneys nose, clearly wondering what on earth this bold stallion wanted. "I'm trying to find my sister. She's smaller then me, splashes of white on her coat, flowers on her antlers?" He would never get used to the animals not able to understand him in Helovia. 

Only a sigh could escape his blackened maw after that. He knew he would have to wait for her to find him. Tilney found himself for the first time in a long time quite cast down. His marble hooves dragged with each step he took between the flowers and he didn't watch keenly ahead as he normally did, and his ears only pricked when his verdent gaze caught the site of another scarlet stag. The stranger held a pondering gaze deep into the groves lake; it made Tilney uneasy at the thought of interrupting but he so dearly wanted to find Carlisle. The bronze cleared his throat, raising his head with confidence and murmured a soft "it's beautiful, isn't it... the water".

Just as Tilney hoped, the scarlet fellow replied without any annoyance to his tone. Perhaps he had found someone just as friendly as he; which was rare, Tilney found. His maw curled into a smile and he allowed his stones to step closer to the winged stranger, his eyes tracing ever so enviously over the feathered limbs. Tilney was a grateful being, never jealous of much except when it came to wings. Words could not describe how much this stag longed to fly. He wished to fly over tree tops, fly to heights deemed impossible for un-winged folk such as he.
The russet introduced himself. Rift. It seemed a fitting name for a brilliant pegasus such as he. The name was sharp off the tongue, quick and simple. "Rift! a great name" Tilney chanted, stepping closely in front of whom he considered a friend already. 

"I am Tilney" His barky crown was bowed in respect for the smaller stallion. The other was more nimble and jaded then he who was so tall and muscular. Heaviness and still learning what to do with his maturing bodice was one of Tilneys current downfalls; Growing four year olds often had embarrassing days. Tilney then recalled Rift quizzing him on his introduction and shook his lofty mane. Silly me was Tilneys only thought. "I am not native to Helovia, no" He began, words cool and friendly "The land I am from is far, far from here".

His nose turned towards the sky, thinking wistfully of his homeland. It had been so long. Briefly he wondered of his mother, his father and his sisters and brother. Where were they now? It was only then that he remembered the very reason he had ventured to the grove; Carlisle was still no where to be seen.
"Actually, I am looking for my sister. She's small and I worry for her... you wouldn't mind helping me locate her would you?"

The other approached just as he did and soon they were stepping side by side. The playful bump to his shoulder sent a happy laugh from Tilneys maw. There was something so refreshing about meeting Rift, his heart was buzzing with happiness and anticipation. A feeling came to him that there were many adventures to be shared with his new friend. 
The others countenance mirrored his own and tilney could tell he must be thinking the same thing about how ind and friendly he was. So many other Helovian males were either intimidating or arrogant or a horrible mix of both. 

"oh, you will!?" Tilney cheered, his front feet dancing with excitement as his companion agreed to help him find his sister. "Thank you!" marble stones took him leaping forwards a few strides from the scarlet stag and he looked back, verdant eyes sparkling "She's smaller then you and I, her hide is a similar tone to mine. Splashes of white cover her and flowers twine through her antlers, her hair as well!"

"She also wears a green scarf but she looses it a lot" he laughed as he spoke, feet hardly able to keep still. With Rifts help i'll find her! "With you up above we'll find her in no time". Jealousy had hit him again. He wished he could just beat his wings and be right above the tree tops, out of anyone reach. Setting off, Tilney took to a soft lope to thread between trees, keeping an eye on the sky.