The welcomed beginnings of spring had brought with them more than just warmer gusts of air across the Dunes. Though the spotted stallion had not been privy to the gangly youngster's crossing of borders, the unfamiliar scent was enough to tempt his curiosity. He pauses a relative distance away to allow himself to gauge the severity of the intrusion. The child has come under the shifting shadows of night, though the stranger seems more intent upon the constellations overhead than the ruler before her. Regardless of the harmless demeanor the girl seems to present, the unwelcome invasion of the Dunes is not something Joachim wants to allow to slide nonchalantly. His mind tussles with what his next actions shall be, but the rather large stallion ultimately reaches a decision that rather surprises him.

He chooses to afford the child the mercy he was denied.

A low whicker of greeting resonates from his deep chest in attempt to draw the girl’s attention to his presence. His muscular limbs quickly carry him to stand beside the child and he allows himself a momentary reprieve from the violence that has surrounded him recently. The twinkling stars above are indeed a sight to behold now that the skies have lost their winter frostiness. "Nature knows no borders - but do you? I am Joachim and you have found yourself within the Dunes." His words are not spoken with malice, yet they hold a warning coated with worry for a child that would wander alone into places unbeknownst to them. He draws in a deep breath of air and finds a rather familiar scent wafting from the pelt of the girl. That brindled stallion that mother cannot stay away from. His bright blue eyes cast a wayward glance at the child. Perhaps this innocent wanderer act is a ruse.

He turns his head to face the stranger while forcing his expression to remain stoic and unreadable. "Do you perhaps come from the Badlands?" His voice is gentle even as the question probes for deeper intent. This sleepy night upon the sands may prove interesting, yet Joachim will not be a tyrannical ruler who takes pride in defeating helpless children. For this reason the speckled stallion waits even as his muscles tense in anticipation. He will wait for the child to answer and see where the pieces fall.