Freebird

The mare heard him and turned, and he recognized the doubletake. The trailing of her eyes over the proud, sharp-tipped spire sprouting from his brow, over the coat that glowed. To her credit, she gathered herself quickly to respond and he chuckled softly, muzzle dipping in a brief nod at her self-assessments.

A brow lifted at the abrupt question, but he took it in stride, head tipping as he noted her stance, and altered his own, stepping fully into sight, but leaving the avenue wide open for her to leave if she wished and letting himself relax hipshot, a hind hoof resting as he half nodded.

“In a manner of speaking. I live in the plains and the moorland south of these rocks. And you need not worry, I’m not gathering mares.” Not unless they wanted brought in, and she was clearly not receptive in the subtle ways of the horse. His assurance was tinged with amusement, but no mockery.

A flutter of wings above heralded Isolde as the hawk dropped from the sky to his back, large eyes flicking about the area for danger before she preened her curved beak through the thick, glowing mane. Wangui dropped from the ridge above to the stallion’s rump and he turned his great head to regard the two creatures with a large eye before turning back to the mare, nodding to each creature in turn as he introduced them to her.

“I am Taliesyn, this is Isolde, and that is Wangui. If you like, we can clean and treat those scrapes. Having friends with nimble hands has its uses.”

The lemur feigned indignation, but patted his rump as she walked along his back to his withers, digging through the pouches for the kit, one large eye peering around the stallion’s muscular neck at the mare for her response.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think