Orhan
As the stranger shied away from him, her posture stiff and defensive, Orhan jerked his head up in a automatic reflex of surprise. The concern melted from his face, softening creases and giving way to an expression of open curiosity. Instinct told him to be careful, but his gut told him he had nothing to fear from this mare. She had evidently been deeply hurt and was suspicious of strangers; he told himself that she had every right to be wary of a strange stallion approaching her.
The stallion made a conscious effort to relax his stance again, lowering his head and letting one ear prick forward in polite interest, while the other splayed to the side in a humble, relaxed manner. "I'm sorry," Orhan said again. He stood still and quiet for a moment, letting his voice settle on her ears. "I won't pry. It's just that I'm looking for someone, and was hoping I could ask whether you had seen him or not. He's a young stallion, paler and taller than me, with green eyes. His name is Koray, and he is my son."
Part of him hoped that, by his admission that he had lost someone, the mare would see that he was no danger to her, that he was merely a victim of circumstance - as she seemed to be. Once he had his answer, he would leave her to her peace.
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