Bellisma

Being a self-dubbed Outcast had its perks, Bellisma had to admit. She could do what she wanted when she wanted, which was such a far cry from her previous life that she almost had a hard time fathoming it. She'd sat in her confines, either alone or with unwelcome company, night after night and day after day, praying to be free of that place but with no real stock in those dreams. She'd almost escaped, once - and that had been the most miserable day of her existence. Even thinking of it now caused a slimy shiver to roll its way down her spine, and where she had been previously trotting before she broke into a full run. The speed took her mind off everything other than navigating her path and the bloods pulsing through her veins.

She had yet to explore much of Helovia, so she couldn't say where she was headed now, but as the foliage thickened Bellisma began to slow. Her heavy breaths made her more noticeable than usual, but she doubted anyone else was out here; the area seemed fairly empty. Besides, her little "herd" or whatever the Unbound were supposed to call themselves, had urged her to explore and meet others to build up her courage... So if anyone was around, she shouldn't wouldn't mind at all.

The eerie feeling of being watched made her think twice, though. Subconsciously, her tail flattened against her rump. Emerald orbs scanned the area silently, her sides expanding and contracting more slowly so she would not impede her own hearing. Her hooves dug slightly into the earth, prepared to push off in the opposite direction if need be, even though she tried to tell herself that really having company wouldn't be all that bad. Unless, of course, said company appeared to be a predator.

The hound... thing that suddenly appeared had Bellisma standing tall in her forelimbs and crouching with her hind, prepared to rear if the creature got any closer. If it attacked, she had no idea how she would defend herself other than to strike at it with her hooves - but with three heads (was that normal around here?) she hadn't the faintest idea how effective that would be. It was, at least, smaller than her. Perhaps a different approach would end more favorably for the chestnut femme. Rethinking, Bellisma leaned forward, lowering her head. Her eyes challenged the animal, nostrils flaring in clear opposition. The little mare had enough hatred stored from all those years of torment that it wasn't so hard to conjure the emotion now. Though she was petite, she knew how to make herself a force to reckon with - provided, of course, that she was not shackled.

Bellisma

Bellisma's strong stance loosened as the creature fell silent, a smirk even weaving its way onto her lips at the little confused yips. That's what I thought, the mare mused smugly, though truthfully her heart was pounding in her chest. She had taken a chance, knowing there was a fifty percent chance it would end in her favor. Thankfully the little beast seemed more playful than actually vicious; unless, of course, it was biding its time until backup arrived.

The thought curled in her stomach and left a sickening residue, sending sticky claws every which way when the quiet plod of someone else approaching hit the mare's ears. Her head rose, one hear flicking backwards while the other trained on this new potential threat. Her hind end turned farther away, tail tightly tucking down. Whatever it was seemed to be moving too slowly to really be worried about the element of surprise, but if it was something large and truly dangerous, then it wouldn't need it.

A few moments later a stallion appeared, a white so cold it turned blue. Bellisma snorted audibly, wondering at this new encounter and preparing for flight, but... He did nothing other than shake his head, and it looked like it was directed at the three-headed canine. At the sudden verbalization, her other ear flipped backwards to join its companion. It wasn't in aggression, but confusion. That too, however, was quickly alleviated once she realized he was addressing what she now assumed to be his companion. When his gaze turned to Bellisma, she eyed his questioningly, if not a little warily. The question elicited another snort, this one in amusement. "I've found that most bullies lose their thunder when the prey... doesn't play prey," she answered smoothly, eyes on the stallion at the beginning but landing on the companion toward the end.

After a few seconds' pause, Bellisma swung her gaze back up to the frosty face. "And what are you 's'posed to be? Friend or foe?" The words were kind enough, but the slight dipping of her chin and the wavering of her ears gave away how truly uncertain she was of the man. It had only been recently that she had decided that maybe not all stallions were out to get her, but... There was strong evidence to the contrary, at least in her past. She would not dole out trust so frivolously.