Falls

As it turned out, Faolain was not the only one to witness the impressive scuffle between equine and feline. As she was observing the body of the big cat and its executioner, a deep call rang out from a hill a short ways away. Faolain’s dark amber gaze lifted to watch a golden stallion descend toward them, his body language confident (almost arrogant? It was hard to tell) and friendly. She lifted her head from the lion and appraised him as he strode toward the two mares, her expression neutral and her ears pushed forward as he approached.

The stallion was radiant in the afternoon sun. His coat shone with golden vibrance, and his bright blue eyes contributed to a somewhat angelic appearance. Faolain thought both he and the warrior mare were beautiful, though where Apollo was sunny, Cyrene wore a coat of shadows. Faolain greeted both of them with a bow of her head (realizing she had not actually greeted the brindle mare when she stepped in to ogle the dead cat; how rude of her) and listened with amusement as the golden stallion serenaded the other mare with words of praise and appreciation. Faolain had never been one to flirt, or be impressed by such applause, but she had no qualms with observing the exchange between others.

Faolain could not tell how Cyrene was receiving the praise by her body language, but her tone when she criticized herself for letting this particular cat get as far as it had was good-humored. The stallion laughed heartily and introduced himself as Apollo, stating regretfully that he wished he had met each of them sooner, and the brindle mare introduced herself as well and gave them the name Cyrene.

Faolain gave them both a smile which was small but genuine, and reached her eyes despite the slightness of the expression. "I am Faolain," she said. "I feel as though I’ve been in the right place at the right time to have heard the lion’s yowl.” She nodded when Cyrene stated she must have been intending to assist. ”It was my plan to help, yes, if you needed it. But I am glad nonetheless for coming to investigate." The smile she offered now was a little wider. She enjoyed the conversation and the friendliness of her companions, though she did not reciprocate the flirtatious energy; at least not yet.