Had Orhan eyebrows, he might have raised them then. He had never before considered the idea of living with another stallion, even just temporarily; the concept was alien and unnatural to him, as if the stranger had suggested the sun might not rise tomorrow.
Of course, it was to be expected. Orhan had grown up without a father, without male siblings: even without a single lead stallion that had lasted more than a few days. All six years of his life, he had been the primary masculine presence in this desert. Could he simply break that tradition, and trust in his ability to tolerate another stallion?
Furthermore, could he trust another stallion at all? Truth be told, he did not know. Yet he could not find it in his heart to turn this stranger away, abrasive and sudden as his request seemed to Orhan.
He would not allow himself to relent immediately, however, lest he lose even a shred of the other’s respect. So he frowned and made a point of flicking his tail so that his silver hairs caught the moonlight like a warning beacon. "I don't believe I caught yours either. You've asked to stay before you offered your name, or learned mine," he remarked, before letting his eyes slide up and down the length of the stranger, as if passing judgement on his character. Still wary of how tall and stocky the stallion was compared to him, he felt somewhat farcical in holding his composure.
A moment paused, and then he allowed his expression to soften. "Forgive me - we don't often get travellers passing through. Or see much of anyone, for that matter. Give me your name, and you may stay a few days: long enough to get your bearings and recuperate from your journey. Should you wish to stay longer, you should approach the two others who live here. If I hear from them that you are trustworthy, then I see no reason why you shouldn't stay as long as you like."
He tilted his head and widened his tired eyes in earnest. "Is that fair?" |
