Common

Perhaps in other circumstances, the plain brown girl would have taken it as predatory or threatening, but as flustered as she was it only seemed charming. She flicked the long strands of her tail across her haunches and followed his gaze back to the tree. Gratefully rested her eyes there for a mment, thankful to not be overwhelmed by him for one moment. As much as she wanted to make this dream last as long as possible, it had not removed her innate shyness.

One neat ear untangles itself from her thick mane to tilt in his direction as he spoke again and her face quickly follows, her dark eyes finding his own. He probably thinks I'm an idiot. Her self doubt crept in and she looked away from him quickly, bashfully returning her gaze to the tree and leaving it there.

"I mean I've heard of trees." A tiny note of defiance crept into her voice that quickly quelled itself when she turned to look at him again, unable to keep her eyes away. His description of his home gives her pause and she listens raptly, unable to imagine what a flowering tree would look like. The only flowers she knew of were those that bloomed in the grass in the summer; tiny yellow bells that reached somewhere around her knees and sporadic white petals near her ankles. What would flowers look like on plants that big? Would they be as big as my face? I bet they smell wonderful... I bet he smells wonderful, living around them.

Abashed at the direction of her own thoughts she clears her throat and flicks her gaze to the ground to regroup. Of course beautiful things come from there. He's from there. I would look like a lump of mud amongst all that.

Still, despite her misgivings she can't help but imagine herself among the trees at his obvious invitation. Granted, the trees in her mind are all dressed in long strands of grass that shiver in the breeze, and the flowers are just oversized bells. Of their own volition, her hooves carried her forward and her muzzle extends. Delicately her nostrils flutter a hair's breadth away, still not quite willing to believe this was anything other than a dream.

She withdraws to respond, but he beats her to it and she chuckles softly. "Me? Oh, I'm not cold. My home is much chillier..."

Realization dawns as her words trail off and like a deer in the headlights she stares at him. Is he... No, he can't be. She swallows hard, her eyes focused on him. Then again, it is a dream. I wonder what I ate before bed last night.

With a huff to gather her wits and her courage, she offered a tentative smile. "But, um, if this place had flowering trees, I'd love to see it with you."

Wide eyed, she stares at him, terrified she's gone too far. Was this the line that broke the illusion?

MARE . PONY CROSS . 14 HANDS . HOMELESS . LOVEINSPIRED