Common

To say he surprised her would be an understatement. The lithe little darkling had been utterly consumed within her own thoughts and the deep recesses of her mind and those that congregated before her that the thought never crossed her mind that someone might approach her from behind.

His deep husky tenor goes unheard... well, unnoticed was perhaps a better term for she heard it sure enough but the salt water from her ocean trek still clogged her ears making it hard to pin point exactly what direction the voices were coming from. She had assumed his voice belonged to one of the few strange horses who gathered together on the far side of the meadow. However, it is his touch that brings a reaction from her. His nip is soft, almost gentle... and yet the reaction it brought from her was much more akin to being touched by burning embers. Tiny ears snap back against her skullcap, burying themselves amid the tangled curls of her thick mane. Proud head rises, silver blue eyes rimed with white as she jumps a step forward and pivots her hips to allow her to turn and face the imagined threat head on.

But much to her surprise there is no threat, at least, she does not see him as that. Hidden ears resurface atop her cranium, flickering curiously as glittering silver blue ooids blink, the startled fear giving way to wary curiosity. He gazed down upon her expectantly, almost as though he had been expecting such a reaction and was merely waiting out the results. It made her grimace inwardly at the thought. She liked to think herself unique; not in color of course, for there were millions of other black horses out there... but her mind was one in a million. To know that she met his expectations so easily was unnerving for her.

He does not say anything, does not offer an apology for startling her; he simply watches... waiting to see how she would react to his touch.

Nova was young, but she knew a stallion's claim when she saw it. As a child she had played with many colts who played in a very similar manner... even her brother from time to time would feign his dominance over the yearlings in the herd and gather the fillies around him in an attempt to herd them all in a corner. They were games back then... but the look in the stallion's eyes told her that this was no game now.

In another place she might have rebuked him. Lifted her proud head and squealed her defiance, standing as tall as her slim 14.3 height would allow and dare him to cross her. But after what she had managed to escape from back home... his companionship was a welcome relief... even if he was haughty about it.

Sleek serpentine arches now as boldly she takes a step towards him, extending her small muzzle to his own whiskered lips and inhaling his scent. His testosterone soaked scent smelled of the ocean and conifer trees, rugged and wild. It brought a small smile to her lips. "Well... she began, her lilted tones light as she drew back into herself once more, a single brow arching expectantly. "Are you going to introduce yourself or do you really just expect me to follow whatever direction you point me in without question?" she quips, silver blue eyes glittering mischievously. Yes, she was a smartass. Mother had warned her many times that such brashness would get her into trouble one day, but the wit came second nature to her and she did not dare try to stifle it. If he wanted her, he would get the mare she was... not some meek little creature, regardless of how innocent she looked...