He felt tense even after leaving the chaotic scene of the Threshold behind him. The small crowd that had gathered to steal away the innocent mare who he now led home had done his nerves no favors. As he wandered back home now, turning behind constantly to make sure the curious looking mare remained in tow, he couldn't help himself from quaking. The emotion was oddly new; the grey stallion found himself impassioned by a protective and fiercely loyal rage directed towards Accalia and the mysterious pegasus stallion, who had arrived just in time to be creepy as hell.

But now they were safe, and so Fence sighed in relief. As soon as his hooves carried him over the familiar line of the border he felt more at ease. The shuddering and quivering ceased, and was replaced instead with the collected calm of a composed soldier. The characteristic bounce in his step accompanied the coming of the late afternoon. It was not yet evening, and the tortured stallion had a few more hours of daylight—of security.

He didn't know when or how he would rid himself of the fear, but until he did, the night would haunt him. Even the Foothills proved a dangerous place when night fell, for every tree reminded him of the darker, more twisting mazes of his lost and ruined home in the Mystic Woodlands. But perhaps with company, he would find himself assured.

"Welcome to the Windtossed Foothills, miss, he spoke over his faded fear and into the light of the cold afternoon. He realized, then, that he still didn't know her name. He wondered if she would offer, but thought that she might not. From what he could tell the mare was a nervous type. The last thing he wanted to do was send her off running.

—

What a strange mare she was. In awe, Lev watched as she bolted past and began to spin, seeming apparently terrified by the prospect of a new home. Has he really spoken so ominously of the Foothills? He had only meant to welcome her home, after all. With mounting worry, he set forth at a quick trot, bridging the gap between himself and the oddly marked mare. Perhaps he was being too bold, but he wasn't sure how else to go about calming her.

Stopping short beside where she circled, he extended his nose forth in a calming and comforting gesture. With any luck she'd feel his touch and slow her motion before she fell. He worried such spinning would make her stumble, and the last thing he wanted to do was seem as if he would let her hurt herself.

He still wasn't aware of her blindspot, or the panic attacks that plagued her. He knew very little about her, in fact, but he was also far too polite to ask. What could he say, anyway? Excuse me miss, but you are a very peculiar mare. I would like it if you would tell me your name and why you are acting so strangely right now.

No, that wouldn't do. He was much too caught up in manners; he was a gentleman, after all. And besides, he must have seemed just as odd some days. He knew for a fact he was prone to odd bouts of shivering and shuddering, and his own fear of the dark was anything but normal. No, he was not one to judge or ask. Still, as he watched her spinning and felt the dizziness float to his own head, he managed to let out a few words of kindness. "Miss, please, it's alright," he spoke as he stepped closer, hoping now that the wall of his body, tensed firmly so he wouldn't topple, could stop her circling. His blue eyes blinked steadily, his ears flicked forward, and a smile lit up his features. "You are safe here, miss. This is home."


—