Meadow

Solomon isn't quite sure exactly how he expects her to answer, but given how the conversation has been going, he wouldn't be surprised to hear her brush him off cooly. He certainly might deserve as much, for the neglect he'd offered in the past, but that didn't mean it was the outcome he was hoping for. Nor, really, was her sheepish answer his wildest hope either, but it did at least allow him to hold onto the slim hope that they had a future. Solomon wasn't an expert into the emotions of mares, despite being a diligent student, but he hoped that in her sheepishness there was some sort of an indication that she still cared for him, if only because her answer had not been cold in tone.

He pauses only a moment before opening his mouth to respond, and then quietly shutting it in fascination as she stepped toward him. Although he remains afraid of scaring her off, he could not have stopped himself from meeting her in the middle if he'd tried. As her face tucked in against his neck, he exhaled in relief and slowly - so that she might pull away if he was doing too much, moving too fast - he stretched to hook his jaw over her shoulders and pull her in closer.

"You aren't a burden," he murmurs after a moment, his voice just loud enough for her to hear. The sincerity of his comment rang true, even if his heart remained conflicted as to the path their conversation had taken. He wished that he could soothe the wounds in her heart that prevented her from finding peace, but that was a power that even he didn't have. "And even if you were, you'd be a burden I'd be happy to have again."

He pauses for a moment, swallowing down the multitude of other things he wants to say before tucking his chin to pull her tight once more. "But only when you are ready."

Solomon released her, trailing his muzzle across the familiar shape of her shoulders but not quite moving away; unless she wanted to move away from him again, he would remain where he was standing, save for the craning of his neck so that he might catch a glimpse of her eye again. His voice was rueful but not entirely sad. Now, at least, there was hope. "Until then," he said with a soft smile, "will you at least promise me to stay safe?"

Solomon