Esme attempted the stare the stallion down, willing him to back away slowly with nothing more than her pinned ears and fierce baby stare. He seemed to get the point, and she watched with satisfaction as he danced nimbly away from her to avoid her clear displeasure. Pleased with herself, Esme cast an adoring glance up at her mama.

There was no denying the love that glowed from her mama, and Esme preened under her amusement, beaming in response to the smile that curled across her lips. However, as soon as her mother pushed her back, she made a soft sound of displeasure and tossed her head in much the same fashion as her father had only moments ago. Didn't mama know she needed protection from this too-tall man? The slender girl fell back somewhat begrudgingly at her mother's reassurance and listened keenly as she spoke about their family.

If this too-tall man knew her name, why didn't he know about sissy? Suspicion narrows her gaze, but thankfully, mama saves them man from any more of Esme's mischief with a gentle command. Immediately she perks up, and is halfway turned toward her sister when mama specifies that she had to be gentle. Esme deflates, propping her ears sideways as she trots back to where she'd left her little sister, mumbling defiant nonsense beneath her breath as she goes.

---

When she finds her, Esmeray wastes no time in shoving her face into Aysu's, and prodding at her sissy's cheek. "Aysu, wake up. There's a too-tall man here that calls himself Dad." For a moment, the small speckled girl's head rises to stare off in the direction that she had come from. She couldn't leave mama alone for too long, she could be in danger. She still didn't fully understand this dad business, or what it was supposed to mean, or why mama's eyes were all glimmery again. This time, as she turns back, Esme drops her head to her sister's face, this time employing a tried and true method: her tongue.

She darts down and licks all along her sister's face before dancing away with a mischievous grin. Mama couldn't argue that she hadn't been gentle now -- no teeth. More urgently now, the slender girl drops her head and issues one last demand. "Aysu, c'mon."