Meadow

The mare is first to react to Ivanna, and her praise relights the sunshine in the girl's soul. Even being called young couldn't dampen her spirits now. Like a rapid sunrise her face brightens and she stands up taller, bowing her slender neck and looking toward the stallion with an almost challenge in her eyes. She expects him to shoo her away as so many others had this season, but instead he also offers words that are heavy with the weight of his kindness.

She knows not what a stelpa is, but her grin turns shy with pleasure. He reminds her of her father. He'd often murmured words of that cadence to her when she was near him. The thought is bittersweet and makes her heart hurt, just a little.

Ivanna's bright blue eyes fall to the ground in front of her and she scrapes at the wet sand, momentarily at a loss for words. This facade falls away quickly, however, as the white drizzled mare wakes the colt. The girl positively beams with delight as he eats her peace offering hungrily and is only distracted when the mare begins to offer introductions. Daire was such a nice name and Lir was such a cool name. She mouths the names after the mare speaks, but is quick to perk back up when the mare pauses.

Bjorn speaks then and she favors him with a smile as well, though she hardly waits her turn before the words tumble excitedly from her mouth, "I'm Ivanna! It's nice to meet you! Both of you. All of you I mean"

As the mare once again thanks her she widens her grin and flicks the lengthening strands of her tail against her hocks. She was no fall weanling, but her second birthday had not yet come to pass. Like a girl on the cusp of womanhood she was all awkward angles and mixed emotions.

She didn't think anything was going to dampen her delight in the day until the mare inquires of her parents and a cloud passes quickly over the girl's face, though she fights to keep a smile on her lips. "Um, no. I, uh, I don't think they mind much."

Uncomfortable with the scrutiny she imagines is coming, she flails for the closest topic she can imagine and prods her muzzle toward Bjorn. "Is the food you're thinking of by the big hill? Next to the dark rock? The snow doesn't really fall there. At least not that I've noticed and the frost melts like realllllly fast so it doesn't kill the grass so fast."