He allowed her to touch him, which made her heart race almost even faster. Her long mane dangled down towards the ground, the ends grazing the soil and grass under her hooves. She could feel his pulse with where her muzzle was, but she slowly stepped closer. Her head rested against his chest now, her forehead touching his skin and allowing her whole face to just rest against his soft fur. This was a lot for her to process, but something clicked in her chest as she just absorbed it all.

Letting herself take a moment to swallow again past the lump in her throat, the shire cross slowly pulled back enough to lift her head. Meeting Dagda’s eyes, the grey mare gave him another soft smile as her eyes still softly shed tears. “I… I love you too.” She murmured, her voice a raspy sound as it was forced past her tight throat. She had not expected to hear the words from his lips. He had taught her some of his language, but she was rusty with it due to having spent time apart and not practicing it every day. Yet, the draft mare could not be any happier with how today was already turning out, even if tears fell from her eyes.

Looking into his eyes though, Baba Yaga took only a faint moment to gather herself all the way before raising her muzzle. Offering the soft expanse of her head, she held it close to his cheek. The mare wanted to lip at his mane, to run her head along his cheek and to absorb this moment. It was so much for her to take in, but she was elated and excited. “You have been more than my shield for a long time… even if neither of us admitted it.”