K A H L U A

As the strange beast, like a wolf on stilts, suddenly appeared on the log Kahlua could not help but skitter backwards. She had not seem him moving, not seem him near the log, and yet he was there, standing upon it, like he had always been a part of the log and the forest. She shook her head. Again she considered running, looking this way and that for a reasonably clear path. It was difficult to find one. The collection of trees was rather dense and, stupid as she was, she was still confused about where to go. All she knew was that she had no intention of becoming a meal today.

She caught his nod out of the corner of her eye and for a moment it distracted her from her contemplations- not difficult to do. His voice came next. The quiet tune was somewhat soothing to the agitated mare and did do her best to listen. Vertigon Estray. Now she was entirely confused. For all of her time here, she had not seen a wolf speak to a horse. She had seen nothing dangerous speak to a horse at all, save other horses. Certainly... no. She shook the idea from her head. He could certainly not be friend. And yet, was there not a gryphon that lived in the Edge? Was there not the half-dragon mate of the queen, and the queen herself who took the form of the scaled beast? She had seen none of them, of course, but did they not exist?

What brings you to these parts? His words could have been construed as malicious or deceiving, if the mare had been one to think in such a way. Instead, his words served to calm her further. She still stayed light on her toes, ready to run should it become necessity, but something in her stupid brain begged her to stay. Perhaps it was that she liked to meet others that kept her here, perhaps it was that she was curious to see if the stilt-wolf could in fact be called friend. Whatever it was, she decided to speak.

“Recruiting for my home,” she said, just the slightest hint of suspicion present in her voice. She was not much of a secret keeper, but for the time she did keep the name of her home concealed. With any other horse she would have revealed it quickly and without hesitation. Looking him over, she did notice the breadth of scars that covered his hide. Quickly, she added a few more words, lest the wolf should get the wrong idea. “We search for those that search for peace.” Mirage's ideal had become Kahlua's. A veteran of only one and... one half fights, she was decidedly against the practice and had not taken much convincing. Touching her nose to her plum colored stone, then, she silently prayed to the moon goddess that peace would remain with her this day, all the while watching the stilt-wolf with careful eyes.