The soft corners of Ailill’s pale lips twitched. His body visibly relaxed when she told him to simply call her by her name. In most cases he would have continued with the formality until he had gotten to know her a little more. And still, it was refreshing to be able to speak to a leader as an equal. The stallion even went so far as to shake himself out, releasing more of the tension in his body he shifted to a more companionable stance so they could share the evening.

He smeed to shrug, never really having thought about the reasons behind why he danced alone or with others. It lets me move and stretch. It is a release that sometimes is challenging enough I can feel it deep in me, and sometimes it just lulls me. Like tonight. He glanced at her curiously, wondering what she would find of the movements, or what it was like to move with another. Sometimes when you dance with a partner, it is as if you sync. Kind of like when you are running together. Only you have to be very close and pay attention to the pressure you place on each other. Ailill figured since she had only seen him alone she may not have understood what he would have meant by that. Considering the distance she had given him and the others he had assumed she was aloof and would not have wanted to come close to others. He had occasionally wondered how she felt about close knit herds, herds that stood physically close to each other as well. He had known she brought others to the territory. But they had been equally distant from him and Siobhan. An ear flicked back with the curiosity that was growing in his mind. He felt drawn to wanting to know more about these strangers who had come here.

In truth, he had not expected the dark mare to accept his offer. When she did, his small grin turned to a full smile. She stepped forward, and he held up his head, pleased they were going to have this moment. We will start simply. I.. uh… I will have to be close to you and touch you. He warned honorably. They were near perfect strangers and he did not know her relationship with any others. Not only did he not wish for a lover to get the wrong impression of his scent on her, he also believed in clarity and consent when he approached to press his body to her, shoulder to shoulder and hip to hip. First, side-step one heartbeat and in the breath step back for two heart-beats. He pressed lightly against her, gently pushing the in the direction to go and knowing she would be able to feel and match him as he stepped back. Then repeat to the other side and forward. This time he stepped away, guessing she would follow, and then stepped forward. And you do the whole thing again.

Careful to keep slow and mindful of her feet so he would not step on her or trip her, he continued to lead her in the basic beginning steps, side by side until her body would start to remember. You gave us the option to stay. I go where my daughter and Siobhan will go. If you will still have us, I would like to stay to protect them and be with them. It was still an awkward position for someone who had been the second stallion to be in, with no idea of what or who Faolian had in her own ranks and alliances. I would like to stay, and humbly ask, to protect you and those you bring here as well. And now we pivot. Slowly, he altered his movement to guide a small turn on their first side-step, angling them both just slightly, before continuing their previous pattern.