.:|TITHE|:.

Soft ears started to pick up the sounds of other horses around him. For a moment, the young page let the fear flicker in his heart. These were strangers, and he was far from home. He knew he was not old enough nor strong enough to be able to defend himself if he were to be attacked. If this was to be his home though, he needed to know who was here. Thoughts hardened. He needed to know who would help him. Power, he had been told, was not merely the strength in your body. With a deep breath, he left the fear pass through him, and closed his mind to the feelings that could hurt him. Blank, calm, and cool, the seasons old colt stepped forward to find the other who had been talking with no answers.

Dark grey eyes looked over Psychedelic. For a split second he wondered if this was the horse who had sired him. But no, this horse was painted, and he had been told his father was why he was grey instead of his mother’s midnight black. Besides, Tithe thought to himself, this painted other seemed to be nice enough. He opened his mouth to speak when another male come forward.

A small breath came through his nose and he steadied himself again, not allowing anything to break through his armored face. This was the first time he spoke to another without the protective oversight of his mother, and he was determined to be able to do things on his own.

“I was told this would be my home some day.” His voice was clear, obviously still a child’s though it came from a colt who stood with the posture of a young man. “I wanted to see what ‘home’ would be.” Looking over at the new arrival, Tithe allowed himself a moment of relief. He appeared to be just a year older than Tithe himself, but also seemed incredibly unhappy. The grey was concerned for him, but did not know if it was his place to try to comfort another male. It was one thing in the bay, offering to help your leader, and show loyalty to someone who was protecting you, who you had been told was a friend. What were the rules of a stranger?

“You didn’t.” He assured, his voice hopefully off handed. “My name is Tithe…” His eyes glanced between the two of them, becoming more acutely aware of how young and small he was in comparison. Still, he stood strong and solid. It was what was expected of him.