(haha, quite the opposite – Demian is SUCH a sweetheart! I love him! Thank YOU for putting up with my terrible writing!)
His laugh, no matter how shaky, brings a further sense of security to her uneasy mind. It had been so long since she had last heard such a carefree sound, and each chuckle rings like music in her ears. It is impressive how such a simple sound can bring such a change in tone, and oh so willingly does she welcome that transformation! And his words, they are so gentle, so kind… she definitely begins to regret judging him by first appearance. In fact, rather than frighten her, his presence is, in a sense, beginning to comfort her.
“The pleasure is all mine,” she responds, feeling a genuine smile spread from the mere hint displayed earlier. Her gaze softens, having now both fully accepted that he means no harm as well as having grown accustomed to his unique appearance. Her earlier fright having subsided, she slowly reaches her muzzle forward to touch his in greeting. As she makes contact with his velveteen skin, she breathes in deeply, finding his musky, masculine scent soothing. It is new, like nothing she had ever smelled previously, and the novelty revitalizes her.
He then comments on his lack of sight and the steel gray mare is unable to hold back a small chuckle of her own. His ability to acknowledge his own shortcoming is quite endearing to her and further eases her earlier discomfort regarding his lack of eyes. “You seem to manage to get around quite well regardless…,” she responds, her tone a fusion of amusement and admiration. “But yes, I’ll do my best to be your sentry.” And with that simple statement, she finds her smile expanding. As silly as it is, the feeling of being useful to someone, of having a sense of purpose, of helping someone again, even just for a moment, was rather reassuring.
He then asks her intent, and she falls silent for a moment, her smile rapidly vanishing from her lips. Searching for something? “Quite the opposite...” she begins, but trails off. There is no sense in bringing up past pains, especially not to such a pleasant new acquaintance. Besides, to bring him up is to allow him to succeed. She is stronger than that… or so she hopes.
She chuckles again, a quick little thing, half at her own stupidity and half out of sheer nervousness. “Honestly, I haven’t a clue what I’m looking for. No idea at all what I’m doing.” And it is the truth, she realizes. She has been so intent on outrunning her past that she has yet to look towards her future.
Her eyes follow him closely at this point as she wonders whether he thinks she’s ridiculous with her aimlessness. She lets out another sheepish laugh, unsure of what else to say before deciding to offer her own query instead, hoping to change the mood. “What are you doing here?” She supposes he might have just been out for a walk, but she might just as well have trespassed on his land. Being so new to the realm, she hasn’t even a clue where she stands, that she’s in a field of vagrants all searching for a home.
chalmette
SHE EXHALES VANILLA LACE