The smile that graces her face causes his heart to flutter with a mixture of joy and sadness. Due to her short and delicate frame most horses might assume that Cursed Dreams was a weak little mare that couldn’t look after herself. On the contrary she was one of the feistiest horses Ashitaka had ever met. She could storm onto a battlefield with the strength and determination that could match, or even rival, those twice her height. Heck she had bested him during their last spar. It would be a shame for the Inlet to lose her, for him to lose her. He had little doubt in his mind that she would be there to fight by his side if he needed her to.
For a moment the bay roan stallion pauses at her remark. Was she upset that he had abbreviated her name? But then he notes the mischievous twinkle in her eye that assures him that he had not offended her. To be honest he called her Dreams because it just seemed more pleasant than calling her Cursed, or Curse. The light mood swiftly dissipates when she asks if something is wrong. Was it that easy to tell? Ashitaka guessed that was because she either knew him quite well at this point or he was just getting rusty at hiding his feelings.
”and who do I have to beat up?” Ashitaka bursts into a lighthearted chuckle in response.
"We can’t solve all our problems with our hooves," he said with a relieved sigh. He took a moment to compose himself before he spoke again in a more even tone,
"Have you heard the news? Rumour has it that Asmodeus has returned to the shore."
He has an urge to add the question, ‘do you want to leave?’ But decides to gauge her reaction first.
ASHITAKA
Male. VI. Bay Roan. Hokkaido Horse. 13.3HH. Beta of the Inlet.