At the genuinely older mares inquiry, Phae shook her bald head. "I'm from da woodts" She tried to reply - her lack of teeth making it painfully difficult. Normally she would have elaborated and explained her relationship with the Grey, but only did the idea of someone in her condition being a spy seem laughable, but she didn't want to take the chance of the mare learning her true identity at a later point. In response to Cal's second question, Phae again shook her head. "No one spe-shul" She answered finally, with a sigh. That was the God's forsake truth of the matter - without her beauty, Phae wasn't anything special. Eyeing the mare, Phae wondered, really, what was so wrong with the way she currently looked? Cal had earned her age, and wore it well. She lines around her eyes seemed to imply depth and wisdom, and her tired body spoke of long miles traveled. Couldn't Phae simply attribute her withered appearance to a life fully lived? Was she really so gruesome?

However, as the stallion approached, Phae had her answer; and it was a resounding yes.

Turning her wrinkled muzzle towards the sound of a male voice, Phae's sunken lustre-less gaze watched with horror as his eyes feel upon her bony and emaciated frame. Not so long ago, before the curse, she would have poured on the charm, especially when faced with such a handsome specimen. Now however, the once golden-beauty felt lost, and frail. What was she to do? She didn't know how to interact with men if she wasn't trying to seduce them. And she very much doubted that this stallion with the kind eyes, would take very kindly to being hit-on by a skeleton.

As Cal grumped a hello, likewise Phae simply bobbed her head, unsure of what to say. Is this how ugly mares feel? She wondered as she found herself extremely self-conscious in his gaze. "Hello yoursel' shugar" She said quietly, clenching her boney jaw as she heard just how un-pretty the words sounded coming from her scratchy throat and through her toothy maw. Part of her wanted to scream that she was cursed - that really, she was beautiful. Didn't they need to know that? Both of them? This is not who I am! Her mind raged, sending endless curses to the Goddess who did this to her; wondering if she was up above watching somewhere, laughing her ass off.