She had expected Rougaru to keep her waiting, at least for a little bit. Faolain knew she was small, weak-looking, and after having kept to herself as leader of the Ridge from her claim until now, she doubted her pale-maned neighbor would take her seriously. Especially following a challenge they both knew Rougaru would win. So, when the taller stallion came flying toward her almost immediately after her call, Faolain’s eyebrows raised in pleasant surprise. Could it be that she had, after all, incited something more than petty amusement from the Wolf of Paradise?

As he slid to a stop in front of her, she appraised him with a cool gaze, her expression giving away nothing of the steadily turning gears in her mind. Not that there was much to give away. Faolain had cleared her mind before crossing the border, organizing and preparing to observe this experiment from an objective place. In some ways, Rougaru reminded her of Solomon, but she thought the tobiano stallion possessed cold anger while Roug evidently possessed heat.

The corners of her mouth turned upward in a polite smile that held no warmth as he acknowledged her choice to stay close to the border. Though her head was naturally held aloft on her doe-like neck, she looked up at him from beneath dark brows and thick eyelashes, refusing to crane her neck further to meet his gaze. If he wanted to be eye level with her, he was going to have to stoop. ”A little of both,” she said, a dry chuckle following her words. Without moving her dark eyes from his green ones (perhaps that was what made her think of Solomon) Faolain shifted her weight to cock her other hind leg, her sleek tail swishing across her flanks once before falling still, a silken curtain of black behind her.

For a few moments she watched him, narrow ears trained on him, studying his face and posture and committing him to memory. His coloration was similar to Rivaini’s, and she could recognize that he was attractive, but the lines of his neck and the fine bones of his face did not send heat to her face the way Rivaini’s lean form did. She knew it was impolite, to not only openly stare at a dominant stallion but to also privately compare him to someone else. But she did not avert her eyes, and as they slid back along his crest and sunshine mane to his face, she offered him another subtle smile. This one was not hollow, but it still did not meet her eyes. ”I must apologize for causing you stress,” she said in the same neutral tone she had used before. ”I owe you an explanation, and then I will be on my way.” She gave a slight pause before continuing. ”Neither of us expect me to win this challenge. I did not issue it because I want to keep Havelle. I require experience and information that will help me with leadership, as it is no secret I am untried. My challenge to you will provide me with such things. I do not wish to be your friend. I did not wish to be your enemy, though that is an inevitable side effect of my actions that I have accepted. I hope you understand.” She did not mention her dangerous curiosity, for though it was only a small part of her decision to challenge, it was still influential. Faolain did not think Rougaru needed to hear that she had provoked the Wolf simply because she wanted to see what would happen.

When she fell silent, Faolain once again watched him, letting him respond or not as he wished.