Ernesto watched her, his head tilted in interest, as she replied to his question. She seemed a little distracted – her eyes flicking around at she spoke, as if looking for someone else who might appear at any moment – but otherwise quite relaxed.

“An explorer, are you?” he retorted playfully, the smirk curling its way around his lips again. “Que interesante!”

He paused, interested to see her reaction. Some girls didn’t much like the jokes – he knew that from experience, or a swift kick or two as some might prefer to call it. Ernesto, however, had never much seen the point in being too serious – life was short, might as well die with a smile on your face.

A frivolous life plan, his mother had always told him, but he had noticed that she always told him with a smile on her own lips too.

“Well, actually,” he continued, taking a small step closer to the mare, her scent filling his nose, “I think now is a much better time than any – given that you happened upon me, your most faithful guía turístico.”

He let out a small chuckle.

“I am Ernesto, and it is a pleasure to meet you miss..?” He hung on for her name, if she would deign to give it to him, before turning to face further into the Lagoon. “Would you like me to show you around?”

His dirty-silver tail flicked against his golden side with a crack, an invitation to follow him if she wished.

ernesto
heartbreak is savvy and love is a bitch