At first Cursed Dreams remained silent apart from the short heavy breaths of her panting. Ashitaka watched her out of the corner of his eye as she approached the water and also started to drink. He wasn’t watching her because he thought she was a threat or anything sinister, he just thought it was good manners to be aware of her presence. Other than the thunder of the waterfall the pair quenched their thirst in silence for a few peaceful moments. Once Cursed Dreams had caught her breath she started to speak. Ashitaka lifted his head to look at her as she spoke, the last droplets of water running down and falling from his chin.
She explained why she thought she lost the practice fight, she was accustomed to fighting with horses taller than herself. Ashitaka was surprised but could not help but chuckle when she did. Her choice of words was rather, shall we say, colourful. Back at home he probably wouldn’t have been permitted to socialise with a mare like this. However, he did not hold onto the same strict rules as his parents, at least not all of them. He found this mare to be rather spirited, and somewhat spicy. Anything but dull.
She warned him that the wrong attitude could get him in trouble on these islands and he nodded in thanks. Lastly she introduced herself by her full name, but added that he could shorten it if he wished to, and asked for his name.
"Thank you for accepting my challenge Cursed Dreams," he smiled gently.
"I apologise for my hesitance at the start," he flicked his ear in an attempt to hide his embarrassment.
"I don’t think I was being," he paused briefly before attempting to repeat the word she used,
"chauvinistic." He had been taught to speak English from a young age but it was still a second language for him and he didn’t know the meaning of every word. She could probably tell that he was a foreigner by his accent.
"My name is Ashitaka and I am from a land far to the west," He could have left it at that but he felt she deserved an explanation along with the apology.
"Where I am from the mares aren’t taught to fight. And I have never met a mare that enjoyed fighting before. I am sorry if I was surprised by your entrance, that was rude of me." He dipped his head towards her again. Not to mention that it was embarrassing that she noticed the fact he had been caught off guard. He thought he had a better poker face than that. Now he knew he needed to practice keeping a neutral expression.
ASHITAKA
Male. V. Bay Roan. Hokkaido Horse. 13.3HH. Guest of the Inlet.