K A H L U A

If she had been mindful enough to pay attention, or able to see into the wolf's brain, she probably would have been startled by the amount of attention he payed to her. Poor, stupid Kahlua was not used to thinking of things in such detail. As it was, it was a wonder she had managed to notice the scars upon his hide. So lost in her own world, she rarely had time to devote to such contemplations. As was his plan, laying down further eased the mare's troubled mind. Now thoroughly confused about whether she should count him as enemy or not, she settled herself to just watching him. She could only handle so many thoughts in her head at one time. With her level of confusion rising, her level of fear was subsiding slightly.

As the orange wolf began to speak, she allowed herself to listen, watching his lanky form rest upon the length of the log. He seemed unnatural, like a terror of the night, and yet he was kind enough and speaking neutrally. If she had been smarter she had may added the whole scene up as an act, a devious ploy by the wolf to make her his dinner. Perhaps he was lucky then, that he had startled this dull and fearful mare and not anyone else.

“I had never thought of peace as hard to keep, until we were attacked,” she said cryptically, though the secrecy of the words was not on purpose. He sounded like an ageless sage speaking to a newborn. She almost liked it. So long as they were not hindering her clandestine plans to steal the Glazier's seat in the Edge, she was fond of having those who were bigger or smarter around her. “Though you guess correctly. Our... warriors prevailed.” She hesitated as she spoke of the warriors, her head tilting back just slightly to look at the long scar that marred what had once been an unmarked hide. Through sheer stupidity she had managed to confuse her unicorn attacker into leaving the Edge, but not before he had made a sizable slice into her left thigh.

As she fell to thinking about her herd, she did not stop to wonder what she should say to him. The words came naturally to her mouth, suspicion melting away with every word. She did not hold on to such feelings long, even when Onni had frightened her half to death they had quickly become friends. “Our forest home is shrouded in mist. Eternal fires burn, gifted to us by our queen.” She paused, realizing that this was not exactly what he had asked about. “Perhaps they would be interested though, sir...” She stopped again. She wished she had not said it, but had not been able to stop herself. “We are not strangers to oddities, I suppose. The queen Mirage has a gift from the gods, the ability to turn into a dragon at will. Her mate is a dragon-horse.” She stopped once more, suspicion rising within her once again. “For your curiosity though, I guess I should ask why interest you have in living amongst us.” It was not a question so much a statement, but she did expect an answer.