Over the years watching from the background he had gazed upon many different faces. He had watched the acts of the enraged, of the hurt, of the broken. And never once had he stepped forwards and shown himself or become involved. Those few that he had traded words with had been the ones to approach the silent individual as she had now, never choosing in instigate a conversation himself. Not since he had struck out alone anyway. When the nips and strike and words had become too much and driven the too young colt away to the shadows. The shadows offered him comfort and safety in what the small child had once hoped from his mother. Fleeting broken hopes he could barely recall now. Time had come to mean little, and in the end even that one tiny memory that had brought a smile to the colt face was lost into the void of time. Don't be silly Nony, you can't be 'no one'. Everyone's someone. The words of an innocent. A chance meeting that brought one in and out of his life within the space of a day.
The smallest bob of his head was the only motion made as she voiced her confirmation, thick dark mane swaying with the motion. He waited in silent expectation for the lady to turn and move on, to find a point more appealing to will away the night’s hours until the sun peeked back up over the horizon. Yet no. His gaze followed her movements as all she did was turn her watching eyes away to the falls, releasing him from her gaze though her presence remained. Few lingered long once they realised what a strange creature they had come across. There were no doubts in him that it would not be long before she grew tired of the apparent hollow steed.
Despite his movement the ebony figure had not moved a step away nor closer. If not for his question it might have appeared the stallion entirely uncaring. Bored even. He merely blinked at her response with no words to offer her until she spoke again. I'm alone. Ears perked towards the lady’s glimmering silhouette trained on her with a keenness that had been absent so far. But he read beyond what had been revealed in her simply admission. Alone was one thing. Yet there was alone. And then there was lonely.
For him they had both had become one and the same. The pining from his youth for company had faded to acceptance of the emptiness of his day along with all the other cards he had been dealt. And now without even realising it he actively caused others to withdraw from his presence at the same time as avoiding theirs. An endless circle. Dimly he wondered at ever having someone that might wait for him as the lady did her friends. What would it have felt like to know someone stood out come sun or rain, night or day, just so they their paths might cross again. Such thoughts awoke whispers of emotions that he had forgotten what felt like. A small quiver passed along his dark sides as he attempted to quell such feelings before they could grow too far, tail lashing along his side sending droplets scattering.
"If they pass they should check all the lands for you." Rough and blunt the words emerged as he battled within himself, pulling away from the flicker of compassion she had somehow managed to drag up within him with just a handful of haunted words. If he had known someone like she waited for him... A harsh snort quelled the thought, ears twitching back in a brief outward display of his turmoil. The urge to leap forwards into the cool waters and focus simply on their chill embrace rose within him. Eyes sunk closed, hiding from the falls and the lady that had so innocently brought about his inner struggle and wrapped his mind back within the shadows. "Place yourself first, miss, only fools would pass through without seeking you out." Softer his tones slipped forth, a quiet confidence vibrating through them as he bowed his head back to the waters, lips brushing their surface though not taking a sip, a sigh disturbing the surface. He should not become involved yet her loneliness called out to be banished. "What is your name? In case I cross paths with any searching..?"
They would come. For her, how could they not?
