Common

Someone is coming, girl.
”I’m aware, she snaps, rolling her eyes as her senses begin to focus on the sound of approaching hoofbeats, bringing the stranger closer with each passing second. The unease spreads to a tingling sensation down her spine and she shifts, turning her head to the approaching stranger, brown eyes watching him with curiosity and more than a little distrust. She is a recluse of sorts, unused to the attention of strangers and it shows in the tensing of her muscles, like a rabbit coiled and ready to spring away from danger.
You should run, before he gets too close the old familiar voice croons and she can’t help but consider it, edging sideways ever slightly as the stallion comes close enough to speak and be heard, his voice a rumbling interruption through the silence. ”My swim?” She squirms, wondering if this is perhaps a trick, an attempt to ease her discomfort so that he might later strike like a viper when she least expects it.

Or, perhaps he is just friendly, she reminds herself, scolding herself for letting the parasitic nuisance in her brain get the best of her. ”It was fine, much warmer than the last time I made it. Though, that was such a long time ago, I might be misremembering it.” As usual, she says more than she intends to before her mouth snaps shut and she looks around, panicked and wide-eyed, looking for a way out. She shifts from one foot to the other, eyes rolling back to the stallion after a quick survey.

”Things don’t change much around here, it seems,” she muses aloud, only half-speaking to her new companion, as if she’s forgotten him momentarily in her reverie. Then she snaps back to the present, wary eyes trained on him. ”My name is Luthien, not to be confused with the place. And you are?”

Does it matter who he is, dear? He’s dangerous, just like the last one I warned you about.

”Shush it,” she grumbles under her breath, though she doesn’t deny that the warning might be warranted.