Tor was being followed.

Her pursuer was both lighter and smaller, and made virtually no sound as he diligently tracked the older mare. The unicorn blood that flowed through his hybrid veins also aided in his ability to follow her un-noticed. At least, he didn't think that she had noticed. If she had, she gave no indication. Had he been older and wiser, his mind might have cautioned him that this could all be a trick. After all, the mare had gone barrelling down the beach into a secluded cave, seemingly all alone. Seemingly. But Vermillion wasn't older, or wiser - and this was the first time he had ever attempted to follow someone before. If someone were watching this scene unfold, and could read Vermillion's mind, they might suggest that a simple "Hello" might do him better, than stalking but...Vermillion didn't have anyone.

He was fairly sure that this was the mare he was looking for. He hadn't really been given a good description of her, however. He knew she was apart of The Grey, and that the Grey's Healer fit Tor's description, but he could be wrong. Ktulu had said The Grey would help him find his lost brother...but he was sure that would come with a price. He had to find some way of contributing to The Grey, and he had heard that the Healer needed aid finding herbs and whatnot, and although he had tried unsuccessfully on his own, he knew he needed to do more. As Tor entered the cave, his mind drifted to his experience in the Heavenly Fields, where he fought a losing battle against a strange purple plant. He had gripped it with his teeth and pulled with all of his strength, but the little plant would not budge. He still didn't know how that was possible. That's what I need her for. He thought, to learn.

As Vermillion entered the cave, he stayed close to the walls, trying not to let his cloven hooves echo too much on the hardened ground. He attempted to match each of Tor's steps, so that any sound he made would be shared with her, but her steps were much longer than his, due to the great difference in their sizes. If she saw him now, what she would see is a little unicorn - leonine tail stretched out and upwards for balance, comically stretching out each hoof, and holding it in the air until Tor took a step. As the pair went farther into the cave, Vermillion began to see what Tor already did - all of the glittering stones. He was too mesmerized by all of the colours to realize that it was in fact a dead end. Ignorant of this, Vermillion simply stood awe-struck, taking in all of the colours, which were overwhelming his little mind.

Vermillion's reflexes were horribly slow. Tor had already fully spun around before he even had a chance to jump. And jump he did - straight up. He landed with all for legs splayed, and his leonine tail tucked around the back of one of his hind-legs. Startled, his eyes widened as he realized for the first time just how big Tor really was, in comparison with him: It didn't help that her heavy feathering added to her size.

"I-iiii-I wasn't following you" Vermillion stammered, lying boldly as he stood trembling before her. "C-ca-cause if you think I was, I wasn't." His lower lip trembled as he tried to hold in it. He felt the words forming on his tongue, consuming his little mind. Standing straight now, he titled his head apologetically. Of course he was following her, and of course she knew it. She would be angry - she would lie! Good day, young one. I'm Tor. How are you? As the words flowed into his ears, the flood gates holding his tongue silent burst all and once: "Do you know Solomon?" He practically shouted the question at her - his small voice echoing off the walls sounding more and more pathetic with each reverberation. As he spoke, he had jumped forward a little with anticipation, and now he stepped closer to her, looking even more sulky for having lied and yelled at her. "Look i'm sorry okay? I just -His voice trailed off. Just what? With a big breath, sounding like the quick sort of inhalation that happens mid cry he burst out: "Ijustdon'tknowanyone anddd..andd...Ktlulu said if I joined the Grey they would help find my brother butshehadn'thelped yet and Idon'tknowanyoneelse and...Do you know Solomon?" As his words flooded out, they clumped together, only sounding remotely coherent when he asked about Solomon again.

[OOC: That's okay :3]

Quivering, Vermillion pulled his lower lip inwards to keep it from trembling as he looking up at Tor. The words that she recited to him, sounded...mystical to his mind. Like something medieval, from a fairy tale. Second of command under Ophelia's rule, gifted with magic from the God of the Earth. Wow. His mind, distracted, focused on what she had said about the God of the Earth. "There are God's here?" He asked, more to himself, than to Tor. Unknowingly, Vermillion had run into the Vein of the Gods previously, having chased a bird there. He had checked back often, trying to find the red cardinal which had alluded him that day, to no avail. But he had never even heard whispers of the Gods, until just now. As Tor reprimanded him, however gently, his ears fell backwards. He looked up at her apologetically - his leonine tail still wrapped around his hind leg, which was shaking ever so slightly. It wasn't fear which was now causing the reverberation deep within his bones, it was a struggle between his childish naivety, and the slow reality of adulthood. Solomon wasn't here. He was probably dead. Vermillion simply couldn't accept that. He tried to tell himself that he would feel it in his very soul, should his twin die. But his mind reminded him that the little stallion had not felt their twin-bond in quite some time now.

Vermillion's shoulder's slumped down, making him look even smaller in comparison to Tor. "I'm sorry." He murmured quietly, his green gaze sweeping the floor, unable to meet Tor's eyes, less he see a look of disappointment, or annoyance. He was realizing slowly that he had a lot of growing up to do. Look at Ktulu - hardly older than him, and leading a group of mercenaries! Then there was Vermillion: brother-less, family-less, personality-less...With a sigh of acceptance, he looked back to Tor. "Solomon is my twin. I ...I don't think he made it from Isilme. With great effort, Vermillion plastered a fake smile across his face. He didn't want to be a bother and if Solomon really wasn't here...well...Sulking wouldn't do any good. "I think I'm supposed to help you find herbs? For healing and stuff? I found one..in the Fields. It was purple, but I couldn't pull it out. It tasted..."Recalling the odd purple plant that he had tried to de-root, he smacked his lips together, recalling the taste. "Like cinnamon?"

Relaxing as his mind slowly comprehend the kind, reassuring tones of her voice, he bobbed his head up and down rhythmically as she spoke. He ceased shaking entirely as she finished speaking, yet his head continued to bob up and down. Realizing that she had stopped speaking, he pressed his lips together and snapped his head back to a comfortable position, looking sheepish.

She had called him young one, why had she called him that? Didn't she know his name...? Realizing that he had been too intent on berating her with questions about Solomon, he had skipped over the introductory part of their conversation. Frustration welled up within his tiny mind, as he mentally cursed not having had his parents around. How was he supposed to know what to do, when there was no one to guide him? "My name is Vermillion"He said finally, giving Tor yet another apologetic look. As he looked at her, he saw the glimmer of light on the wall of precious jewels behind her. Peering around her large frame, his mouth formed an upside-down U shape as he considered the abundance of colourful gems. But hadn't Tor said they wouldn't find anything of interest on the beach? Frowning, he looked back at her again. "We can't use any of those for magic n'stuff?" He asked, not meaning to question her knowledge of healing, but baffled that such beautiful objects were not related to magic, in some way.