01-27-2016, 03:48 PM
He had come from downwind of her for no particular reason, definitely not from a nefarious purpose such as to cloak his scent from her - it simply happened that way but was completely unintentional and he realizes that she is rather taken aback by the fact that he came up so suddenly from behind her without little announcement, neither a betraying footstep or the usual smell that precludes one’s approach and his face shows a hint of the apology that springs to his lips the moment she skitters away from him and shows her fright. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” His sincerity is apparent as she begins to calm down moments after, and he knows that she has a good sensible head on her shoulders - she is definitely a smart mare, instinctive and quick to assess the situation and respond accordingly.
Mandan feels her staring like he had stared at her; he cannot help but smile, knowing her eyes are drawn to the impressive set of horns atop his head. He realizes then that his staring is probably rather uncomfortable and he directs his gaze elsewhere, though sometimes throwing her a polite glance to show that he is still focused on her. It occurs to him (and he can see the puzzlement in her face, like a shadow that crawls across it) that she has probably never seen another quite like him, not that he is rarity in these lands for there are stranger things afoot than an addax-horned stallion but to someone from not quite around here, he supposes he is strange enough. She doesn’t ask though, like so many do though he would be more than willing to sate her curiosity of how he came about those horns, through a mutation of magic before he was even born but he doesn’t offer up this little tidbit about himself.
He agrees with her sentiment about the wintry land’s beauty; it holds a certain appeal for him and he thinks longingly of stretching out his legs amongst all that powder-soft snow, except he’s rather certain it would be a clumsy run instead of an elegantly beautiful one. “Unfortunately nothing goes unspoiled for very long.” he comments idly, not entirely upset by his own statement because he knows it to be true - all that is good often does not remain so, not wholly corrupted but also never quite the same once it is disturbed. “There are still a few places that retain their magic despite our presence there amidst their grandeur,” he tells her, thinking of what is now his home and has been for almost a year already. “Do you know what you are looking for?” Because he is not the herd type and cannot offer that, but she doesn’t seem like other mares - interested in the first stallion that comes by and pays her attention, she’s smart, he remembers thinking and thinks she would be a great asset to the Falls’ kingdom.