It had taken a lot of persuasion to get Esinakh to leave the Edge and come to the beach. After their last disastrous experience here, Arakh is unsurprised at his beloved sibling's reluctance to return to the scene of the crime. To him, sand is not an enemy; it is not something to be hated or feared. Sister-calf, however, he knows does loathe the grainy monstrosity, and so by proxy Arakh does, too. And perhaps it is selfish of him to try and get her to come with him, but he just has the feeling that something is going to happen on the beach today.

So they travel, and the colt is careful to stay close beside his sister at all times. She does not need protection, but it is his duty as her brother to give protection even when it isn't wanted, so he lurks as close to her as he possibly can without actually touching her. When they reach the bridge, Arakh is just as confused as his sibling; he edges closer as though to reassure her, but really he's reassuring himself that she is close by.

He's sorely tempted to admit that he was a fool to drag Esi here with him, and lead her back to the comfortable sanctuary of the Edge. But what a coward he would seem like, if he admitted his nervousness! He has to be strong for his sister, so with a loud huff of confusion and a flattening of his ears, he plods onto the bridge.

Half-expecting the bridge to eat him, his stride is quite slow; it hurries as he sees a crowd nearby, however, and realises that if the bridge didn't eat them then he's probably safe. He waits for Esi at the end and seeks to press his muzzle reassuringly against her side, then allows his blue gaze to drift around the gathered horses. It stops as it sees the source of their interest; a creature that simply looks too strange to exist, a creature that is simply not-horse.

Arakh's lower jaw hangs loosely as he goggles at the bizarre animal. Only Esinakh's words draw him from his stupour, and he narrows his eyes warily at the odd creature. "Not sure. Esi stay close to Rak, just in case." To his considerable consternation, no sooner has he spoken than Esinakh is leaving his side to head towards a much older colt with a metal wing. A burning pang of jealously jumps through the lad's heart and he snorts crossly, pawing at the ground and launching himself after his sister. What could make her want to leave him to try and touch some randomer?

The boy lurks close to his sister's flank, glaring at the metal-winged colt as though he had made Esinakh abandon all sense and move towards him.