The golden stallion meandered through the dense wood in a listless fashion. His usual charming demeanor had faded into a sullen melancholy. He couldn't get his mind off of the ebon Unicorn dove. Faelene. His noble brow was wrought with wrinkles of tension. The mare had rejected him, more or less. Vainly, Leander convinced himself that it was only because she was fearful of his kind in general. However, such wistful ideas did little to convince the heart to carry on in a normal fashion. The dame's midnight visage played through his mind repetitively, a ghost haunting his solitary walk.

A light breeze rolled through the foliage, sending vibrant leaves dancing to the earth. Flaxen locks flew up and about in the gust. Brilliant eyes gazed out from beneath the mess of cream tresses. The approach of nightfall grew nearer, but the towering brute was not concerned. It's cool embrace would provide a welcome relief from the day's heat and misfortune. So lost in his own gloom, the palomino almost didn't notice the umber equine ahead of him. His dull gaze lifted, some of his normal vibrance returning to ivory rimmed eyes. The petite fem stood much lower then he did, and dawned a rich earthen pelt. With a soft sigh, Leander mustered a smile for the girl. Pale traces of sorrow lined his face, unable to be deterred so quickly. "Hello, miss. Pardon me if I've disturbed you. I wasn't really watching where I was going." Deep, smooth tones greeted the young duchess. The presence of another helped ease his unrest by the slightest, even if the mare was only a stranger. Politely, he dipped his crown. Even the most troubled of hearts would not make him lose his manners. "I am Leander, a Warrior of the Dragon's Throat."

Reluctantly, the dejected mood began to leave the stag. It was slowly replaced by the innate curiosity that often overtook him at the sight of a stranger. The delicate girl was staring at him with the wide and innocent eyes of a newborn filly, though the nicks across her pelt spoke of a longer past. She was the second mare he'd met who looked as though she'd once been torn apart. Aureate pools were drawn up to her left eye, which gleamed a pearly ivory, a sharp contrast to the bold blue of her right. A twinge of sympathy ran through him as he wondered what had caused the damage to such a little, seemingly harmless equine.

A warm chuckle rumbled from his chest as the ochre mare addressed him quite respectfully. "Please, there's no need to call me sir. And you certainly aren't in my way." His laugh fell back into a smile as he followed the young lady's eyes to his wings. The dark appendages were folded against his side comfortable, being of little use in such dense forest. Breifly, he considered spreading his plumage out to their full expanse, but he knew better than to frighten the girl with such a prideful display. Thoughts of Faelene chided him, recalling how quickly she had pulled away from him when she had felt the touch of his cursed wing. With a quiet, pained sigh, Leander pushed his attention back to the henna fem. Wuthering Heights. He was both intrigued and confused by her long and unusual name. He couldn't recall ever having met anyone with two names before. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Wuthering Heights." The lengthy title felt strange on his tongue, but he said it as eloquently as he could manage. Where did this small vixen come from?

Another short laugh emanated from the tawny brute. "You are in Helovia. At least, that's what this land is called. There are many different regions here, but I have only explored a few." Rich mahogany wing began to extend gently, to let the shy Wuthering observe them. He had never met anyone who had never seen a Pegasus, but he was sure that there were many worlds he'd never reached. "I have wings because I am a Pegasus. There are many Pegasus here, along with Unicorns and Equines such as yourself. Not all of the races tend to get along, mind you." Faelene's words rang out in his mind. "You are right to think it should not matter what's in the heart, but it is the world outside of it which makes it and everything else vulnerable to suffering," The midnight Unicorn had told him. She had been right, though he would give anything to change it. There would always be those in each race who felt superior to others, and there would always be those caught in the crossfire of their racism. Sadness pulled across his face, but failed to take his attention completely from the stranger before him. "If you desire companionship, you are more than welcome to return with me to the Dragon's Throat and gain acceptance. There are also other herds which I'm sure would welcome you as well." Another smile forced it's way onto his facade. He would help the girl whether she wanted to return to the Throat with him, or to go elsewhere. It was the least he could do for the petite, lone mare.

Trees ruffled in the Orangemoon air above the pair below. Leander continued to let the young equine's words lull his mind in and out of it's sorrow. It was intriguing to watch the girls reaction to his answers. She seemed quite awe-struck by the sight of him, though not terrified. Her lack of knowledge of such common things was refreshing. It reminded him that this was not the only world to be explored. "Of course I can! These things would be pretty useless if I couldn't!" The stallion spoke with a hearty, well-meant laugh. He smiled reassuringly as the mare's muzzle moved bravely towards one russet wing. The buck held his appendages still, so as not to scare Wuthering. He could not imagine a life without wings, and was often amazed at how well equines survived without the advantage of flight. What a hardy, strong race they were. And unicorns as well, though his opinion of them was often more shaky. Sooty ears pricked as the sienna doe spoke of her homeland. She didn't say much of it, but it didn't sound like paradise by any means. Silently, he wondered what the full extent of her story was. "Well, you'll be glad to know that the leader of the Throat is a mare." Unfortunately, that was pretty much all Leander knew about the elusive Kri. How foolish to be in a herd and yet not have met the ruler of it! He would change that soon, for he had many questions that needed answers.

A cheerful grin found his lips as Wuthering accepted his humble invitation. He hoped she would be happy in the sands of the Throat. It was as good a place as any for the lass to find companionship and purpose, and would give her protection during the coming Frostfall. "I don't mind at all, you've made my day in fact! I'm sure the herd will be very glad to have you." The flaxen brute turned his frame and began to start off in the direction of the Throat. The girl would need to meet Kri, or another higher ranking member than himself, but he would see to that when they got there.




(ooc: If you'd like to start a joining thread in the Dragon's Throat when you get a chance, I'll add Leander in when you get it posted. ^^)