She was curled around herself, just another shadow in the slowly rising dawn. Dark silhouettes danced around her as she lay tucked in a thicket in hiding. Nothing in particular was a danger to her, but she felt safer concealed in darkness with her father gone. Especially without her wings to shelter beneath. Instead, they'd been taken and replaced with an obnoxious spear on her face. It was how she met her dad, actually, when she ran in fear from the ominous mountain and had gotten her horn lodged within a tree. Though he was blind, he'd found her and set her free.

And she'd never left his side since, until now.

The air was sticky with the scent of rain soon to come, clinging to her roan coat that still smelled like Siberian. His scent soothed her, and she shifted quietly to resettle herself more comfortably, tucking her chin on her leg. Hopefully he would not be gone for long, but something had felt different about this time. Something felt scary and she secretly worried that he may not come back. An air of foreboding hovered heavily around her, but she tried to ignore it.

Hunger clawed at her belly, but she refused to move. Refused to make a sound, as she breathed evenly and awaited his return. Her ears perked up at every little sound. Occasionally, she'd raise her head and peer through the brush, spine pressed against the base of a thick tree. The forest creatures went on about their business around her, and for a time a little hare had braved closer in curiosity and stared at her. None stayed too long though, and Siberian still hadn't returned. She knew she should search for some grazing, but she was afraid if she strayed from her hiding place he wouldn't be able to find her again.

So with a rumbling tummy, she slowly closed her eyes for a nap. And waited.

It was almost a restful sleep. She could almost imagine the large black stallion curled around her, keeping her warm and safe. So she didn't really wake to the tremble that passed over her, shivering in the absence of her warm wings. Somewhere in her drowsy mind, she slowly realized the forest creatures had gone silent. They had accepted her, small and harmless little thing that she was, and ignored her presence in their forest. Now something larger must be near.

She froze, little head still tucked to her body, and listened. There was the lumbering of another horse around, a heavy grown-up, but it wasn't Siberian. There were no patterns of sniff-tap-sniff that the blind stallion used to find his way. So she curled tighter and hoped she would go unnoticed. It seemed to work for a while, the sound of tracking moved away from her. She settled into her success at being overlooked, and with a light drizzle pattering the canopy above, she was swiftly lulled back into sleep.

She always listened first, so cautious and quiet. She heard nothing when she was pulled from her little snooze, confused at what had awakened her. It was silent again, or perhaps it was silent still. Only a gentle rain tapping at the leaves above. Carefully, she opened her eyes. A man's face greeted her not far away, lowered to the ground at her level. Calm and maybe friendly, but also strong-looking. Not a black like Siberian, but nearly the opposite. Looking right at her. She didn't move as she stared back blankly. Would she dream of a complete stranger? She must still be asleep. Just a weird dream.

But he didn't vanish like a ghost. Even when she blinked, there he still was. Watching her expectantly. Someone whispered over his shoulder, "should I wake her? We don't want to startle her," and Azar realized he might have asked her something. And also that he wasn't alone. There were more of them. She wanted to peek over his shoulder at who the other speaker might be, his mate maybe. But she was trapped in his gaze now, blue-violet eyes hiding the growing unease chilling her. Her father would come soon. He wouldn't stay gone so long, right?

She sat up carefully, aware that she would not be overlooked after all. Each movement was slow, like a hare afraid to attract attention to itself. She breathed slow, trying to keep her heartbeat from racing off without her, as she pressed more firmly against the tree behind her. Wide, doe-eyes watched him cautiously, silent and unsure, as rain fell a little heavier and slid down her little horn. Were they a threat? How would she manage to escape them?

They both seemed to watch her expectantly with soft expressions on their big faces. Her cautious nature was clear to their wise eyes, and the adults seemed to sense her readiness to bolt. Even still, she wasn't comfortable enough to settle into their easy presence. Concern lined their eyes, which confused her. She was only a careful little thing. Certainly not in need of their attentions. She was sure Siberian would come back for her. Sometime. Maybe. It had been a while now...
No, of course he would.

"My name is Orion. What is your name?"
"My name is Giselle. Sweetheart, are you lost?"

Her wide eyes bounced between the two of them, the pale one and the gold. She might have tried answering them had her mouth not dried like a desert. Nervous and uncertain, she swallowed quietly and waited. It wasn't long before the woman spoke again.

"Well, we'd best keep close. So the poor darling can get found easier."

Azar shook her head emphatically as she backed into the tree some more. She didn't want them to stay. Always, only one person had been with her. With two strangers, she felt crowded and a bit anxious. Her father was the only one at her side, or she was on her own. It had always been that way. And without him here to keep her safe and reassure her, she was uncomfortable.

Slowly, her head stopped shaking, a faint tinge of remorse tugging her brows in a grimace. She wasn't trying to be mean. But she still wasn't sure they should stay. She was big enough to be on her own, wasn't she? She had been before. She had been now, too, before they found her tucked away in her little thicket.

She moved back to her bush and curled up beneath it with a quiet little huff. They weren't going to leave. Neither was she. Her chin rested again on her sprawled forelegs. Bright blue-violet eyes met Orion's again, and held them. He seemed to be the leader of this day. What now? she thought to herself.

"It is a pleasure to meet thee, Giselle. Maybe it's best if I search the area. She may warm up to you quicker than I."

She watched him curiously as he spoke, catching on the oddity in his speech. Her father had never talked like that. But as he finished, her eyes widened just in the slightest. He was leaving her alone with the woman! Always it had been her and her dad, never a lady. Ladies probably don't even like cuddles or catching fish. She hadn't gotten to see Siberian catch any just yet, but he promised to show her someday.

Her hind leg twitched as Orion walked off a ways, growing more uneasy. She perked up in interest though as the woman mentioned food, instantly reminding her belly to grumble at her again. She would have gone for food on her own, she was big enough to do that by herself! But she didn't want to leave her spot in case Siberian came back for her while she was away. So she'd gone hungry just a little.

The mare caught her attention again as she lowered her larger body to the ground nearby. Azar shuffled deeper into her leafy cover, turning a circle and resettling so that she couldn't see the stranger unless she peered over her shoulder.

There. It was like she wasn't even there. No strangers, just little ole Azar in a bush waiting for daddy. With Orion's footsteps passing them in wide circles. Maybe he was looking for her father. There was no need, really. The large mass of her black father would only appear when he was ready to. And he'd be heard before he was seen, with his tapping and sniffing as he tried to find his way blindly. She wished he would have let her come along with him so she could help guide him, bouncing at his feet and pressing into his legs. She was safe with him.

Orion's scouting brought him back closer again, and in a spontaneous urge to play, she wiggled to the far side of her shrub where he would pass by. Her dark bay nose poked out and like a biiiig birthday wish she blew really hard with a little Fwooosh!  She jerked back inside her hideout, quiet giggles muffled by the foliage. She may as well have a little fun before they left her too!