Common

true love is for quitters

She had always assumed that she would find herself a herd quickly, that she would have a purpose or a sense of belonging by now. The way Vivienne had made it sound, mares were constantly being scooped up and whisked away by stallions who wanted to believe they were white knights. Of course, her dam had also impressed upon her that the only true purpose that Vex should have should be to bend those weaker men to her will until she found someone worthy of her. Supposedly that had been her granddam's method, and it had led to her being the Queen of the strongest stallion on the isles.

Vex wasn't sure she was buying it anymore. The more she saw and learned, the less she felt like power was something that she craved. Sure, it might feel nice to be someone's Queen or to be pampered by a stallion smitten with her... but it also might be nice just to share in someone's companionship at the end of a long day. Someone who would listen to her speak about her troubles and then share some of their own.

Finding that, however, had not been easy.

Movement at the corner of her gaze draws both her gaze and thoughts back to the present and she turned toward them, ears flicking apprehensively to and fro. "Hello," she murmured in answer, shifting so that she was facing him instead of being perpendicular. The way his statement ended in a question made her brow furrow in concern before a surprised laugh bubbled up from her chest. "Is it?" She asked, although there wasn't any real malice in her question and when paired with the tentative smile on her lips, was almost teasing. She shifted into a more relaxed stance, allowing herself the luxury of believing he was here to speak to her, rather than corral her in any particular direction. "I'm kidding. I'm Vex."

Her gaze flicked away from him for a moment and she tried to tamp down the bubble of hopefulness in her chest, even as she admired him from the corner of her eye. He was as loudly marked as she was, but where she was waifish and thin, he looked sturdy and capable. She turned back with a steadying inhale. "I didn't really expect anyone on this side of the Crossing," she admitted with a flick of her tail. "Why are you out here?"