Playground

Orestes blinked, wide eyed. While he was not the most observant child he'd been so busy trying to disappear that he hadn't even noticed the approach of the bay colt who even now reached out, inquisitive and curious. His first reaction was to snap at the stranger, milk teeth clicking together almost sharply - surprising Orestes. He hadn't meant to react that way, to lash out... body wriggles backwards, eyes pinned on the other foal, for the first time sensing that this other child was different, like he was.

It was not comforting, that thought.

FInally Orestes scrambled to his feet, the wings on his ankles pressed tightly against his legs, curled up until they were almost like tiny black buds sprouting from his forelegs. Had he been human, Orestes would have been hugging himself; as it was he was slumped over, not quite crouching, head low, ears down against his scalp. Ordinarily this is when an apology would have been issued, the words slipping from his lips meekly. But he has no words to give. Orestes cannot really remember the time he spoke in more than grunts and snorts, though surely he's spoken before.