Surprise wrote a comic expression of raised eyebrows and wide eyes on the stallion’s face as the filly abashedly admitted to the terms of her whereabouts. Surprise quickly faded to warm amusement at the dramatic, ashamed downturn of the filly’s sweet, young face. He fought valiantly to supress another chuckle, not wanting to make light of the situation – truthfully, he should tell her mother, as there was likely a very good reason as to why she did not trust strangers, nor let her daughter roam freely and speak to whomever the child so chose. But for the moment, with those dark, liquid eyes – his train of thought was interrupted from fatherly amusement as the filly’s gaze was once more fixed upon his own. In that instance, he became aware of her blindness and his heart fell with pity. He would not wish such a handicap on any other, let alone such a sweet, young child. His ears flicked back and he heaved a sigh of sadness as he quietly pondered the filly’s query.
“By rights, lass, I should take you back to your mother immediately, she’s likely worried sick about you,” he replied softly, turning his gaze briefly toward the rolling, shimmering surface of the ocean. The world was truly as cruel as he had found, after all. “I won’t, though, that is your secret it bear. I will keep you company until you are ready to return to your mother, Idelle, I wouldn’t feel proper leaving you on your own now, for your mother’s sake as much as your own.”
Turning then in the direction he had come, he looked over his shoulder at the filly, ears pricked forward and jolly grin re-affixed to his dark muzzle, “We might as well make the most of the morning, don’t you think? Come, walk with me; tell me of your family.”
stallion. cleveland bay. dark bay. sixteen-one. four.
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