It's gotta be a cloudy day
She is entranced by the deep mysterious emerald eyes of the other mare. Stomach filling with the sensation of butterflies, breath shallow at Naga’s tone and compliment. If a horse could blush she’d be as red as a lobster. No one has ever talked to her that way, or even called her beautiful. She wasn’t an elegant refined mare with genetics for long hair like many perceived as beautiful nor did she have the grace and athleticism of high stepping equines or even the muscles of the noble types. She was a humble mutt: slightly shorter than the average, a stocky build with thick legs, and a flat nose. Her best feature was the colour of her coat and how it shone. But the others tone was so convincing and a sheepish smile tugged at the corners of her dark maw.
The roan warriors remark although expected was still off-putting. She was more sensitive to the ill tempers and aggression since being attacked, and she flinched from the dirty look. She didn’t exactly know the obsidian mare but she heard the introduction as she approached, equines are blessed with good hearing, and her scent was mingled with the humid tropics of the Jungle just as the last visitor from their territory when they had offered an alliance had. If it had been a stallion here instead, the reaction would certainly not have been so welcoming. But instead of voicing her defence, Ashara shifts her attention to the boy, reassuring and thanking him for his calm obedience, feeling his restlessness growing. “This is Cicero, and I hope not. I don’t want him getting hurt.” She half jokes, finding it much easier to speak and breathe when her focus is on him but she turns back in time to see the wink. She is practically flabbergasted. Was this mare flirting? She was so sure that others like her didn’t exist, that she was cursed with this flaw to be alone, unloved and unable to love, for the rest of her life. Her jaw must have dropped in shock, she was clueless how to respond. She remained in dumbfounded silence, gawking at the emerald eyed ebony femme. She wanted to flirt back, if she knew how, but a lump grew in her throat. Childhood trauma’s have a way of impacting the present even when rational thought says otherwise. Being exiled by her own family as a yearling for being different, for having a childhood crush on another filly was devastating. Her own parents couldn’t love her because of it and so she spent her entire life denying it or keeping it a secret. Although confiding in her painted comrade had gone surprisingly well, it has strengthened their friendship, he was the only one to hold her secret. Expressing her feelings now, in the presence of the others, even if they were friends, held huge risks. The kingdom was all she had until Cicero, it took her in when her own family wouldn’t and offered her safety, comfort and friendship. She couldn’t lose that, especially with a child.
“Yes, you are more than welcome to visit. Please come see the falls then.” Her voice is less flirty than she wishes it to be and more excited. Although the waterfalls were so common to her, it was exciting to see it through new eyes. She motions towards the dull roar, curious if the others will join or if she’ll get some alone time with enchantress. Cicero is eager to move his feet after standing so patiently.
@[Raxa] [your turn :)]