Common

His words come as a relief of sorts, and Luma smiles slightly at the dry humor. They cut through the awkward uncertainty of everything right about now and set out a clear, obvious path for Luma to follow: she can introduce herself, listen and smile at his sweet words, and follow him to whatever land he calls home. It's a familiar pattern, the kind of interaction she's seen countless times before, and there's at least some comfort in knowing what's going to happen.

It would be a leap of faith, to place enough trust in a complete stranger to lead her to a completely unfamiliar place. She's new to these islands, and she isn't sure she could find her way anywhere useful should things turn sour and the need to escape arise--but when one ends up on an island chain far from home, with no allies, family, or friends remaining to turn to, what choice is there that doesn't require a leap of faith? What's one more journey with a stranger when she has already left behind everything--everyone--she knows?

She draws breath, parts her lips to respond--but the brindled stallion's surreptitious glances catch her attention before the words leave her mouth. Luma's first thought is maybe he's looking for someone, which is immediately followed with or maybe he's looking to see if anyone's paying attention. The possibility raises her suspicion, but before her brain can run wild with speculation, his attention is back on her and he's introducing himself.

"I'm Luma," she responds, and maybe he'll dismiss the tension in her voice as nothing more than that of a mare simply nervous because she is new. At some point in time, Luma had become acutely aware of her own heartbeat. Rafe is taller than her, stronger than her, more familiar with this land than she is. She didn't dwell on it before, distracted as she was with her own emotions, but now it's a realization that nags at her nerves. She does her own sweep of their surroundings, trying to act as if she is simply curious. The horses scattered about are immersed in their own business--would anyone care, if something here went wrong?

"Were you looking for someone?" In a moment of brazen resignation, she decides to simply ask, and casts another glance over the meadows as if to clarify. "Just now?" Maybe, hopefully, she's only overthinking. And if not, then it might be a stupid question that will only raise suspicion, and pointless at that--but if there's not much she can do either way--

Isn't it better to know?