I walked the woods alone, without the company of sons or bonded in tow. A silent prayer was on my lips. Its purpose only holding worship, I stepped lightly across the undergrowth; enjoying how Tallsun was now in full swing. Life seemed more abundant, green things had begun to actually start thriving which was a stark difference when compared to how they were only a few seasons ago last Tallsun. Comfort and graduate were given though, the desert was always blistering and I felt lucky enough to be privileged with protection from the sun’s harmful rays by sheltering among the trees. Thus were the privileges of being General. My tasks gave opportunity for exploration; I was free to fly from the borders. Instead of mindlessly guarding them. I was free to bring home fresh meat, new blood to swell our ranks.

Today…I didn’t intentionally come for company; I came for the solitude and chances of meditation. I came only to pray, but like all plans of late, this one was about to get interrupted. Gleaming eyes catch sight of a shadow walking quietly among the timbers. Its frame was lean and girly, with just the hints of feathers ruffling as a gentle breeze trailed through. A mare, alone obviously and possibly new. I pause following her movements with my eyes alone before making quick decision to actually do something productive for my family today, “Good afternoon friend, I hope your day is faring well?” Slowly I close the distance between use, waiting mostly for a response before getting very personal.

Perhaps it was a mistake to approach so openly, she appeared nervous and flighty. Literally, flighty. Her wings unfurled with surprising speed, thrusting down and back up again. Muscles pulling the tendons until she had obtained a nearly perfect lift. I pause instantly, taken by surprise at how startled this lady was. Had I said something wrong? My wings unfurl an inch or so from patched barrel in readiness should her fear lead into an attack. She overtook me in height, but from first glance this woman didn’t appear to be of the warrior variety. Should this meeting turn ugly I had every confidence that my efforts would strike the top bracket.

Then like a switch the lady seems to calm and grow almost mild, even a little uncaring as if nothing unusual had just happened. Her hooves brushed earth and she landed, I didn’t move a muscle. Though my wings remained a little flared just in case trouble arose. Ashy ears had fallen along my poll in shock, now they struggled forward to catch response, “I am fine, thanks.” Really? She sure didn’t appear to be fine a moment ago. “You?”

Wary now I offer the lady a forced smile and say, “I’ve had better days….please accept my apology for startling you, it wasn’t my intention to frighten.” Truthfully I was still at a loss at what had actually worried this lady into flight. I surely wasn’t the most frightening thing in this forest, “My name is Midas by the way,” and she surely wasn’t the most optimistic looking mare. In a way this lady reminded me of another girl, who had been just as prickly if not more.



OOC: Don't forget that we have a 250 word rule.

"I believe I have come across incorrectly.” Brows raise curiously, slowly my wings relax a little, but my poster remains rigidly maintained. I wait to hear what her justifications might be, despite personal desire that we might move past unfortunate first judgment. “I was frightened a bit, and I accept your apology like a polite mare like myself should, but I believe all that startled me was a small daydream of mine.” She could have stopped at, "I was frightened and accept your apology". But no. For some ungodly reason the woman kept on talking until she admitted that it wasn’t me that had startled her at all—it had been a daydream. A daydream? She rattles off more information that doesn’t seem to tie into her daydream claim until I’m certain that during this onslaught my head has slowly craned to one side as if draining blood to the left side of my brain would somehow make this conversation clearer.

How in the world had she been trapped alone? There was creatures all over this land, sometimes to many for counting. It was a alarming to think that she hadn’t held contact with her own kind for many weeks. Or perhaps she was just a little touched in the head. As words kept on spewing I began to think the latter. "Sorry for seeming a bit confused in the area of emotions. I promise you, it is just hysterics creeping up on me out of loneliness for however long it has been...I usually don't act so oddly." At this point of this ramble I'd grown stark still and am currently double checking to make sure my mouth isn’t hanging wide open. Words leave me for a long moment; I wasn’t sure how to respond to crazy.

"Now, I believe you said your name was Midas. You also seem to be more than just a homeless wanderer. The Throat interested in any new residents?"

It takes me a few seconds to register that she had been able to title my home correctly. Apparently this stranger wasn’t so alone after all, how else would a foreigner have known about my clan unless they had been born in Helovia, gossiped with the local brambles or witnessed its sands firsthand. Carefully I choose my next set of words, “Aye Miss, we are always looking for new blood that is willing to become part of a working unit—a family.” The sentence comes out slow and steady, still wary of this strange girl who had yet to issue a name, “What name do you go by?”

As predicted her shuddering didn’t go unnoticed. In fact it was rather distressing and I instantly began to wonder for the second time in this conversation what I had said to cause her to react in such an unfitting way. Woman were a mystery that would likely always befuddle the minds of men until time untraveled; and even when this globe of dirt ceased to spin…girls would probably still confuse the opposite gender to no end. She answers what I thought to be a rather direct question, but its answered in a way that does nothing to clear my sense of uneasiness about her mental abilities. Robin. I wasn't a strange name. Her proceedings are listened to with tact and polite care, though the unmistakable flick of my white plumage shows hinting sign that her rambling is wearing on my shallow pool of patience.

Perhaps her sire and dam had a sense of humor? Foals born with light golden colors tinting their bodies, rarely darkened beyond anything past heavy cream or pale yellow. She wouldn’t have darkened into anything more than a palomino. “I guess many others would expect that kind of thing from me, but it never seems to happen….” What, ‘thing’ the lass was referring to just begs to be questioned; but I hold my trap shut out of fear that asking about her history might lead into more of an already uneasy story. If she wanted to elaborate on her personal spew of what childhood was like, then she would do so without my interjections.

"So you say they will include another resident or two at this time?”

I am given a half second to nod before---“Do you work as just a family member, or do you do a certain job for the Throat? If so, would I be accepted do you think? I am still new to the way of life we all are supposed to follow; I originate from a place that is nowhere in the area of our land here."

Silence. I let it sink blissfully in for a moment before slowly and carefully parting my lips to answer her questions in a tone that feels and sounds more than a little stiff, “Yes, we accept all with a willing heart; I’m the ‘General,’ I oversee our warriors in matters of training, and help lead during times of battle—I also recruit potential members.” Pausing a moment with hopes that she would also take a breather to let my words sit a moment. I add with a kinder note of fading sympathy, “You’ll adjust after spending a little time here.” Feeling that our conversation had come to some sort of conclusion I asked, “Would you like to visit the Throat and see if it would be a suitable home for a lady such as yourself?” I wasn’t going to turn her away…despite having doubts that her brain had all of its wires straightened out. Hopefully the hot desert sun would fry the ends of her madness right off, nothing could set you more right than a good roasting.