He repeats her name. ’Ayiana..’ the sound of the syllables taking on a new life through the husky baritones of his voice. The golden girl fights back a shiver of pleasure but the widening of her smile still escapes her notice. She had always thought her name to be rather plain, especially in comparison with some of the many other pretty faces that found their way into her similar proximity. To hear him murmur words of appreciation and admiration causes the heat of embarrassment to once more rise and heat the skin of her cheeks. She dips her head bashfully and manages to whisper a stammering ‘thank you’ in response. He sure knew how to flatter a girl.

His forward step draws her eyes, lingering for a moment on the tufts of dark hair that meet the dark obsidian of his cornet. ’You did not intrude…’ he beings, her pale azure gaze drawing to his kind, dark face once more as he continues. ’..your presence brings warmth and radiance…fate brought you back to call it home once more.’ FATE. That very word alone is enough to drench her in the icy embrace of understanding. He wanted her to stay. Golden brows furrow as anxiety begins to rise anew. Zurok was so very different from Raegar. Though they are still essentially strangers, he has shown her a level of kindness she is not familiar with. Grant it, Raegar has never been cruel towards her and truthfully has been her savior in more ways than one since her hooves first found her washed up on Salem’s shores. Raegar was a youngling then, not much more than a colt himself albeit a wild one. She had stayed with him because of Amaris, or so she told herself. Now that Amaris no longer needed her… where did that leave her?

She blinks away the thoughts to gaze into Zurok’s dark, auburn eyes once more. Her long dormant heart fluttering once again, sending images of her slender frame pressed intimately against his own obsidian body. Zurok was different, yet even he had the need to possess. But was she willing to take her freedom from Raegar for him? Was she willing to leave Amaris behind for Raegar to console? Why should she not.

Before she can stumble over her confession, the handsome black stallion saves her once more. The mention of her mother’s name on his tongue causes her ears to lift hopefully. Had he seen her? Was she still here? It is hard not to hide the disappointment in her blue eyes but she counteracts it with a gentle, reassuring smile of her own. She should not be surprised that he did not know of Larka. Though the mare’s silver white coat could make her stand out in the sea of yellow and green Prairie grasses, Larka did have a way of hiding herself even in plain sight. Nonetheless, Zurok proves yet again to be the selfless creature his eyes proclaim him to be. Valiantly he offers to keep her company in the search for her dam. Once more, Ayiana feels the familiar heat of pleasure beginning to burn beneath her coat. ”I would love that.” she murmurs, this time a bit more confidently as her slender neck dips into an arching bow, inviting him to take the lead. The Prairie was, afterall, his home now not her own.

”I… uh…” she begins, losing concentration for a moment as his muscular shoulder brushes against her own. Small fluted ears tilt backwards shamefully. ”I must be honest… I um… I am not exactly free to simply remain here.” she begins, turning her pale blue eyes to the thick tufts of grasses in their path, not willing to see the sadness or disappointment in his eyes. She exhales a slow breath, ”I..um… have been living in the Badlands of Salem for the last few years with my daughter and a young stallion that saved me.” she murmurs, pausing now to glance up into his gentle gaze. ”He is not unkind but um… I do not know that I can merely free myself to return to the Prairie permanently… at least not yet.” she finishes, letting her voice trail off. At least not yet. The thought of returning to the Badlands would probably be greeted with accusations (though they would not be entirely wrong). Not to mention Raegar was not exactly the most reasonable of creatures, considering how it was that she had first been brought into the Badlands. But he did have Amaris to keep him company and Zurok…

She steals another glance at the dark stallion beside her, a shy smile curving across her ashen lips. Zurok awoke emotions within her that were absent when it came to the painted desert stallion. Emotions she felt certain were reciprocated in Zurok, at least she hoped they were anyway.