The faint echo of my call barely has chance to peter out before it is answered by another more demanding voice. I trace my eyes along my path to the dark painted bay, his white marking catching the light as he observes me. For a brief moment I allow his eyes to run over my body, my black tipped ears flicking beneath my unruly mane, before striding into a large casual trot towards him. There is no aggression in my approach; my head dipped low and to the side, my focus planted firmly on the ground in front of the boy.

I leave a respectable amount of space between us, coming to a stop roughly about where I had laid my sight. ”My man, how she been treatin’ ya?” I try to sound calm though my breath is still slightly quickened. ”The names Fallo and I’m seeking temporary refuge” I quickly attach my intentions. I don’t need this brute jumping to false conclusions and drawing blood in defence- neither his nor mine. I am not interested in a fight or in their mares; I have no need for them this time of year.

The sun bites into my hide as I await his response. I try to gauge his thought through his body language but years of flying solo has left my sixth sense a tad bit rusty. Although I hold a faint memory of once being told that no potential brother can be turned away from the Lagoon, I still don't want to ride in upon a bad note.

”You anything special around here?”