[private] the birds they sang a melody

[Areane]

The scowl that had been there moments before clears quickly, like thunderstorms happened to do during the summer months, and it allows Areane to release the small breath that she had been holding. She knew that she would never make the diplomat that her father had wished her to be. They had an eloquence in their way of speaking, and to Areane’s young mind, it seemed that a good diplomat always knew exactly what to say.

She never did, and that only further convinced her that she would make a poor one. Besides, it was Tarian’s stories about his time in the Air Guard, fighting in the Alliance, becoming Champion of Loess that always intrigued her more than any of his others. And she knows there is still a ways to go before she can even join a military rank; her family is just newly-settled in Tephra and she is still learning the landscape of her new home.

He smiles at her, and it emboldens Areane.

It would seem that she hasn’t completely offended the horned stallion.

So Areane smiles back at him. ”It was lovely this morning,” she goes on to say. ”Everything was so still, and the breeze was so light, even coming from Tephra.” It had required more in terms of flapping her dark wings, but she hasn’t had many chances to truly stretch them out. ”I haven’t had such an easy flight before.” But then she realizes her mistake a moment too quick; the brindled youth before her has no wings - only feathers - and it feels rude to gush about flying with someone who has never experienced it.

Nice going, feather-head. She chides herself.

”But I’m sure it was lovely to just… walk,” Areane begins, and then sheepishly adds, ”I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to -,” she continues and wraps her dark wings tightly against her slender sides. ”I’m Areane, and sometimes I say too much,” the young mare says, offering her name as well as an explanation when she glances up into his bi-colored eyes. She continues to peer up at him until Areane abruptly remembers that she had been given a task; her very first scouting mission and determined not to fail, she tentatively asks "Have you heard of anything? Where anyone from Loess might have gone?"

@ Malik