The young mare continued to trot down the path, her head held high and not an ounce of shame on her face at the young colt’s teasing. In fact, she almost smiled back down at him. I was not with a boy I was with a man. Apparently there was a big difference. A small grin lingered on her face, flickering with after thoughts of what had brought her up to this point. The feelings had been different, and the urges so similar. Young as she was, she could not wrap her head around what exactly it all meant. At this time, it did not matter. She was in a new place, with her new friend, on a quest to find her brother. She swished her tail at Argento and picked up her pace, teasing him to follow. You just wish you could have found a girl!

The crashing and laughter did not have to travel far to reach the ears of the golden stallion the protected Paradise. Taika’s laughter was one he recognized in an instant as the constant tune of his childhood. His heart quickened with excitement and the stallion raced forward along the trails to find the mare and her traveling companion. As he drew near, he slowed to a walk and used his knowledge of the shadowing trees to hide his gilded body. Everywhere around them vines hung from the branches of the forest. Grinning, he pulled on the ropes and caused all of the branches around them to shake and tremble with movement, masking his location in the commotion. Holding his breath, he let the world fall still for a moment before bolting out of the shadows and rearing up with an over exaggerated whinny of challenge.

Who dares enter Paradise without permission! He spun onto Argento, pawing the ground but his ears forward in a friendly manner and a wicked smile on his face. Defend yourself and your fair maiden, or face the wrath of the forest folk. He stood with a snort and a stomp, but still an airy smile on his face.