Deep thought had caused the young stallion to be caught off guard by the sound of another equine. Intonations like a whicker had come from the undergrowth nearest to his position. The jolt of surprise had forced the male to instinctively shy, head shooting upward as he skirted almost sideways from the bramble. Admittedly, Lir hadn't been watching the forest or foliage that made up the landscape. Perhaps that had been foolish of him. Something in the back of his mind would passively tuck that thought away for future reflection when he relaxed.
Lir shot a look over his shoulder into the trees. Then, turning away from the water and toward whoever lurked there, he came to a halt. Sable ears pricked forward curiously. His pale nostrils quivered with anticipation. The laugh that came from him was stilted, either with apprehension of the stranger or embarrassment at being caught unawares. It was his first time away from home. (The Prairie was home, wasn't it? Even though he wasn't born there?) He didn't want to seem like a ninny. "I, uh, didn't see you there!" The words bluster forth in a tone of light-hearted, albeit feigned confidence. "Apologies for the intrusion."