"Talbot, no! Bring that back here! I saw it first!"

Childish vocals permeated the steamy air that naturally surrounded the hot springs of the Basin, amplified only by the chill that came with nightfall. Lanky legs toned with sinewy muscles pushed the tiny body forward, desperate to match the pace of the fleeing Hellhound pup. Little Rhiannon was out past her bedtime, again, but this time she wasn't alone. No, as Crowley had been furious the last time that his daughter had ventured out in the covet of darkness without a proper guide, it seemed the the only way the Weaver would be appeased to let her traverse the Basin frosts after nightfall would be to have Talbot accompany her. Not that it was a problem... Far from it, actually. Except that right that very second, it was a problem.

"Talbot!"

Since her birth, Talbot had been a steady friend and playmate for the brindled filly. While she and the Hellhound lacked the special mental bond that Crowley shared with the beast, Rhiannon knew she had one of her own with the said canine. They romped and played, wrestled and chewed on one another, and shared in their youthful adventures together. Then, after they were well and exhausted from their days of play and general mischief, including getting underfoot of the Weaver himself, they would sleep, nestled together in the back-end of Crowley's cave.

Still, no matter their special friendship, Rhiannon would not let Talbot get away with stealing her treasure.

Talbot's tiny legs scampered down the crest of the hill, a rather large bone held in his jaws and weighing the Hellhound's head down and hindering his pace. Rhiannon, however, was right on his heels. The filly was paced at a clumsy canter, too-long of legs hard to maneuver at such a steep incline, hooves stricking the frosted earth with little grace. It woud come to her in time, certainly, but for now the youngling would make do with what she knew.

Down the two raced until they reached the flat land, and only then did Talbot slow his pace, jaws aching from heaving the bone around. Rhiannon, spotting the pup slow down to a stop, did the same, frantically trying to put a stop on her flailing legs before she trampled the poor canine. Somehow successful, although far from pretty-looking, the brindled filly came to a jarring stop, tiny bosom heaving as she attempted to catch her breath. Steated on the ground before her hooves, Talbot gave a whine, bone still held somewhat awkwardly in his jaws. Then, he let the said bone fall to the ground with a muted 'thump', tail wagging.

Rhiannon sighed and was about to chastice the young pup when something else caught her attention, snapping two-toned eyes from the Hellhound to further gauge her surroundings. They were amongst the bubbling hot springs, where Rhiannon herself hadn't been before, but she knew of them from Crowley. It wasn't the steaming waters that caught her attention, however, but a maiden who had nickered into the darkness. Rhiannon's gold and silver eyes lingered upon the blue beauty, momentarily startled to discover that she and Talbot weren't alone. This older female sported a horn, and... Was that grass hanging from her mane? What funny looking grass.

Slight fear rose in her ebony clad breast, but the Weaver's daughter wouldn't run. No... Already at such a young age, she had too much pride to let her scamper off in fear. Instead, she held her ground. At her side, also spotting the blue-clad stranger, Talbot rose to his paws and growled, shifting closer to Rhiannon. The filly spared the Hellhound a glance before looking to the blue maiden once more.

"... H-hi," Nonnie stuttered out, her squeaky voice somewhat uncertain and shy, "Um... I'm Rhiannon. Did we bother your bath?"

[ooc: Sorry for the wait, Awerks! And also sorry that this ran away in length... XD Also, permission from Dingo to use Talbot in this thread!]

Rhiannon waited with bated breath as the blue-hued unicorn sways from the waters of hot springs, two-toned eyes roaming over the older female's frame. She was pretty, this unicorn, her striking blue coat pleasant for the filly to look at. It was as if she was a manifestacian of the large lake of the Basin, with the depths of the water swelling in her very coat color. A small part of Rhiannon almost felt inferior; she was younger, and not near as pretty as this mare... Yet, she speaks, this beautiful one, and Nonnie is immediately entranced by the sound of her voice. It was soft and sweet, yet there was something so distinct about it that a greedy part of her wanted to hear it again.

Tiamat. That was the name of the older unicorn, and simply hearing her words caused a positively ecstatic smile to cross Nonnie's lips. At her side, Talbot tilted his head curiously at the approaching stranger, a soft, non-threatening growl leaving his lips. It was one of curiosity, for the young pup, likewise, had yet to meet too many new individuals. Rhiannon then takes a delicate step forward, lifting her dainty head upwards to brush her muzzle against Tiamat's in a gentle fashion. It was a greeting, kind and welcoming, and a nicker of enjoyment bubbled forth from the brindled youngling's throat.

"That's a pretty name! It's nice to meet you, too, Tiamat," she said respectfully, thin tendons in her neck retracting as she pulled her head away. A smile remained on Rhiannon's lips, and she tossed her head in excitement. At her side, as if sensing her emotions, Talbot gave a yip. He didn't like to be overlooked! "And this is Talbot. He's not mine, though, he's my Papa's companion. Papa says that I'm not allowed to wander off without an escort anymore, 'cause last time, I got lost, and it started raining, and he had to pick mud out of my mane and tail for hours." Remembering the incident made Nonnie cringe, a set of displeased wrinkles forming around her two-toned eyes. "... And that hurt."

Unaware of her own little speil, Rhiannon looked back up at Tiamat, the short length of her tail slapping against her striped rear with every swish of her tail. "I was," she answered in response to Tiamat's question, "Isn't it pretty here? I'm still exploring everything... Like, this is the first time I've been here, at the hot springs. They look kinda scary, actually... Is water supposed to be hot? I always thought it was cold. I mean, it's cold at the lake." Frowning, as if in deep concentration, Rhiannon turned her head to survey her surroundings before looking back up at Tiamat. Maybe the blue mare would have an answer for her next question. "Is there a lot of water that isn't here? I mean, like... Is there more water out there? Past the Basin? I haven't been out there yet; Papa won't let me go."

Suddenly, as if yet another question suddenly popped into her brain, Rhiannon spoke up once more, daring a small step closer to Tiamat. Her eyes were locked on the grass that covered the mare in various places, the grass that she had seen before, and curiously the dark filly stretched her neck out to sniff at the closest clump. "What kind of grass is that? I've never seen anything like it before..."