"Do you still want me?" she asks, and he feels like his heart might shatter into a million pieces. He touches his nose to her cheek, breathing her in, almost desperately. "Don't be silly," he murmurs, "'course I do." He sighs against her skin, closing his eyes as he presses himself impossibly closer to her, her body molding against his, and all he can think about is how she feels perfect against him, like they are two pieces of a puzzle that fit just right. Opening his eyes, he gazes into the water, his expression distant. "I won't let you out of my sight as long as you're here." He promises her. "'n I won't let anyone hurt you. Not again." His words are firm, a promise to her that he intends to keep this time, no matter the cost.

It seems to Dixon like a lifetime has passed since he had spoken those words. Ever since that night, he has kept her close, never leaving her side, not even for the briefest of moments. He even took her with him when Bloodmane's battle cry was issued, having her stand amongst the shadows so he could know she was safe and nearby. He had made especially sure to keep her away from the other stallions. Now, as they stood at the water's edge, their bodies pressed together. Dixon drinks deeply, ears flicking atop his head at even the faintest of sounds around them. He had promised her he would keep her safe, that night, and he had meant it - he still means it. So far, he is doing a decent job of keeping that promise, but sleep weighs down on his mind like a weight, and the burden that rests on his shoulders feels like the weight of a thousand planets bearing down on him until he feels like he might collapse beneath them. But he perserveres onwards, forcing himself to stay awake, stay upright, keep going. If not for himself, then for her, because she deserved it - and he had made a promise, of course.

Lifting his head from the emerald-colored water, Dixon turns to look her in the face, his brown eyes drinking in the sight of her blue ones, of her pale skin which so greatly contrasts the starkness of the Lagoon in wintertime. He reaches out to touch his nose to the juncture where her cheek meets her neck, hoping to offer some comfort or reassurance. "Is there anythin' you wanna do today?" He inquires. Their travels out of the Lagoon have been sparse since her arrival. It isn't that he doesn't trust her - on the contrary, he trusts her completely. But the grain of fear that has implanted itself inside him seems to flare and grow whenever he imagines her wandering out there, by herself, with winter quickly approaching and greedy, predatory stallions lurking in the shadows, waiting to take what is his and make it theirs.

"If you wanna leave, y'know, all you gotta do is say so." He reminds her as gently as possible. "I don't want you to feel like you're trapped here." He knows she is young and strong-willed, and her spirit as free as a bird's, and her wanderlust has yet to be tamed. He would not object to an adventure, as long as she is willing to keep him by her side.

((ooc: hope you don't mind me choosing the setting, etc :3))