There was tension in the shire stallion’s muscles that Kiraz felt when she sidled up next to him, but it dispersed as they entered the Lagoon. The red ‘Teke relaxed as well, following suit with a small sigh as a subtle feeling of security stole over her beyond the border. She had felt protected in the big stallion’s shadow, but she felt more so now that she recognized in him the sense of being home. This must be a safe place, she thought, and much of her body became tired and wobbly as the anxiety left her, but she remained on alert. This might be his home, but it was not yet hers, and until she grew accustomed to this place her comfort was borrowed.

”Tyr,” she repeated when he gave her his name. It was short and sweet, easy for her to cry out should she leave his side and run into trouble, though she doubted she would get very far from him willingly. ”Mine is Kiraz.” She stopped when he did, her breath coming in a few little gasps until her heart settled down. She was sleepy, but the rumbling of Tyr’s baritones as he told her of the Lagoon’s brotherhood made her shiver in a way that woke her up a bit. They were comforting, and she felt that if he spoke softly to her she could fall asleep to the sound, but for now it was new and exciting despite her fatigue.

”Are you friends with the others who live here?” she asked, her honey-gold eyes flickering up to his, miles above. Will they hurt me? was what she really meant. Her crimson tail swished nervously against her spindly legs, and she wanted to press closer but held off. She worried he might chase her away if she became too clingy, but it was hard to resist.