I can see you when the moon is shining bright
I can feel you when the moon is out of sight
whisper softly, well it sounds so nice
all alone in the dark, all alone in the dark

I can hear the words you whisper when you're near
I can feel them tickle softly in my ear
kiss me softly while there's no one here
all alone in the dark, all alone in the dark

- The Monkees, "all alone in the dark"

He does not move to block the sun from my eyes and while I know someone truly chivalrous would have done so I thank him silently for it would have ruined my small deception had he given into the greater kindness in this case. I do not move either for I am not at all bothered by the light and besides, moving would mean that he is no longer in front of me. “He hesitates…” my companion can not seem to keep her thoughts to herself and though I am unable to see her face I suspect her eyes have narrowed suspiciously as she makes this observation. “Perhaps he is shy,” a grunt of disbelief is her only reply to that suggestion. Had I known the true reason for this very brief hesitation I’d have thought twice about continuing as I am, in my open and welcoming manner. Then again the fact that he thought, even for just a moment, to spare me from himself shows that he is perhaps not as dangerous as he believes himself to be. Maybe I would not have changed my mind. In any case it hardly matters for I do not know the bend of his thoughts I know only his scent, the sounds of his movement, his voice and the observations of my grumpy companion.

The small smile hovers on my lips perhaps a little too long but I can not remain silent in the face of my partner’s extreme rudeness for I feel it reflects badly on us both. “Forgive my disrespect honored grandmother but you speak with little thought to your words I fear.” Another grunt escapes the creature and her mind voice pushes it’s way into my head again, “If you are going to scold me girl, do it silently for goodness sake. There is no need to show him a divided front!” I almost laugh at this, “we’re hardly under siege my friend.” A snort suggests that she doesn’t feel I have a proper understanding of the situation, “care to bet on that one?” I do not respond for the stallion has taken control of the exchange again and honestly I am more interested in what he has to say. Alanii shuffles again drawing herself out to a position parallel rather than diagonal to my own forcing me to jump slightly in order to avoid the sudden swish of her tail. I land with a front hoof on each side of the bothersome extension and am about to scold her again but am ordered quite sharply to, “hush!” Shocked into obedience I decided that I shouldn’t worry too much about this sudden new arrangement, at least she hasn’t threatened to bite him this time.

His long explanation ends now and I am rather taken by the ring of truth to it, apparently my companion is as well for she gives a dry and amused chuckle. “Well, I suppose I should grant you points for being direct boy. I must admit I find your honesty refreshing though I suspect that what I want has very little bearing on the situation. Which of course means the ball is in your court Tylie… assuming we really have a choice.” She adds the last bit silently just to make sure I know that she is still unwilling to trust him. He has offered me a home, a thing I have not had since I left mother and father behind. Is this really something I want? Do I even want to remain in this new place? I have been a wandering explorer for so long I am quite loath to give it up… and here Alanii interrupts my train of thought, I don’t know how she expects me to decide anything if she is going to keep doing that. “You aren’t going anywhere girl. Avenion is your place now, you need me to look after you. Whether or not we go with him is another question entirely, assuming might I remind you that we are really being given a choice.” I sigh in exasperation at that, “He’d not have asked what we wanted if he didn’t intend to let us choose now would he?” She remains silent but I can tell she still thinks my grasp of the situation to be a little too loose.

Not wanting to keep the stallion waiting any longer I proceed to answer him, “Alanii here informs me that I will be remaining Avenion whether I like it or not. So I suppose it would be beneficial to find a home. Yours is certainly a compelling offer Keryi and I think I will say that I want to go with you… I do have a question though. When the snow melts and we return to your lands, will we be going somewhere very warm?”



Call me TYLIE for that is my name. They say my 15.3hh, PALOMINO OVERO coated, FEMALE person is an eye catching sight. Trust the kindness in my BLUE EYED and BLIND gaze for these FIVE short years of life have not hardened my heart. Recognize my breeding as a mix of AMERICAN PAINT HORSE, MISSOURI FOX TROTTER, MUSTANG, QUARTER HORSE & THOROUGHBRED. Know my mother as ROWEENA but I can not name my father. Connect me with ALANII the BLACK skinned YELLOW bellied DWARF CROCODILE FEMALE axian of skill level 0 my better half and link to the element of WATER in which we are pursuing the EXTERNAL (3/12) tree with the --- tree(s) completed. Look for me in --- for it is there I reside. Place me in the court of --- under the title of --- and trace my blood down to ---. My strings are pulled by the beautiful TZARRA who should be credited with both my creation and my words. ? of ? is the painter of my portrait.