the kladruby feels kirova’s gaze as it passes over him and, inwardly, he cringes wondering if she thought his pronounced roman nose was unsightly. he snuffs out the thought, chastising himself for being so ashamed of his heritage. his matka would have been so disappointed in him…the tall stallion shakes his head then, as if shooing a fly, trying to focus on the interaction at hand so as not to make a fool of himself. when the mahogany mare speaks, thanking him and introducing herself to them both, the tall stallion takes that as an invitation to step toward the pair, cautiously, and stretch out his neck in an offer to exchange breaths. he reaches out toward the friesian as well, dipping his large head to her politely. as he regards them both with eager brown eyes, noticing that they seem at ease, with a hind leg resting gently on the ground and relaxed postures. lukasz, on the other hand, stands stiffly beside them, muscles tense with post-like legs. why it so hard to relax? probably because they’re pretty and i’m an oaf he thinks vaguely. his eyes drift to kirova’s face, and he sees the small smile she directs at him, encouragingly. he averts his gaze quickly, soft brown eyes darting away, toward the ground, but he feels a shy smile pull at his own lips in return. vasilissa affirms his statement about the thicket, though honestly he isn’t sure why he had mentioned it at all… he had just been desperate to say something and it was the first mundane thing he could think of. he may as well have mentioned the weather. he realizes now though that he is glad to catalogue this information… perhaps he could visit them someday and forge a friendship. lukasz’s ears twist toward the black mare and then back to kirova, intently, as he watches for her response to vasilissa’s statement. he had no interest in competing with the friesian to offer her a home…though, as he eyes the bay once mare, he sees a veiled fierceness in her that is attractive. he found himself eager to try and get to know her. the towering stallion would also be concerned if vasilissa intended to force the other mare to her home without even offering kirova a choice, but he hoped it wouldn’t come to that… ”luthien is near the isle i reside on, salem… i hold no rank but i have been welcomed to the badlands to make a home there. his voice is soft, apologetic almost, as he explains his situation to the pair. perhaps he would stand a chance in starting a herd if he had fought to lead his own territory, but he had no interest in politics or battle. he had been raised in that life and wanted something more simple. a place to rest and live, company of a family and friends that he hoped to acquire, and that would be enough.
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