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The silence of the night was starting to take over and rule this area that Maisie was lounging in, so when the small rustling of tiny hooves stirred the crisp grass around the large golden orbs instantly zoned in on Shen. It wasn't like she had to peer through the dim lighting of the moon to see him. He was practically a moon all in himself. Maisie would naturally be frightened of strangers but this one was young and significantly smaller than herself. It was funny how she viewed strangers. The larger and more menacing they looked the faster she fled, and yet some of the most lethal creatures in the world were no larger than her hoof. Still, as the little foal stared at her she could faintly tell that he was taking cautious actions with her. Perhaps he was frightened of her? The thought alone caused a warm giggle to emit from the mare's mouth with a bubbly sensation. It was easy to forget how sad you were when somebody was there to keep you from your thoughts. At least that's how it was for Maisie.

Her eyes never left his as they both examined each other, seemingly hesitant on what the other would do or say. There was no doubt about it. This was a long awkward silence and just the stillness of the night made it that more apparent. Maisie's eyes took in ever single motion of his lightest movements, using her keen senses to stay alert. Finally, at long last he spoke and let his guard down a tad bit. The only polite thing to do was greet him back with a soft smile, "Hello there." Her depression was slipping at the idea of a companion for the night. She flicked her ears slightly at the crunching of freezing grass beneath his light weight body. Just that small observation made Maisie realize that it was colder than she expected. The poor dear was most likely freezing his little tail off. Perhaps she could coax him into laying beside her like Cobb would often do to keep warm at night. It made Maisie laugh lightly as he spoke about not wanting to frighten her away or harm her in any way. "Heh, I'm not frightened. I believe you..." her voice was soft and calming. The way she spoke to all children.

Her eyes darted up and down as Shen sat there, not even giving the slightest of shivers. Maisie was shaking like a leaf by now but strangely this boy seemed so unaffected by then icy winter night. "Little one, aren't you cold? Why don't you come over here and we could keep each other warm...." she gestured with a nod to the grass beside her. She even shifted to the left a little bit so he could have enough room to plop down on pre-heated grass. "I promise you that I wont do anything to startle you..." the whites of his eyes were a bit disturbing but she just shrugged it off, thinking that he was partially blind. The poor dear. "You know, I have a son just your age. His name is Cobb. Oh, and how he loves it when I nuzzle him to sleep," she soon found herself ranting about her lovely little son. Her eyes stared at Shen expectantly, thinking the young one might take the bait and come closer.

Most would run the other way? For what? What was it that this little sweet heart could possibly do? Sure, he was a bit on the unusual side, what with his strange radiant coat and his pupil-less eyes. Only the faintest hint of an iris resided in his orbs, but that didn't startle her as much as it would most. Sure, if he was grown and much larger than he was no then she would probably have found this situation much more haunting but the truth of the matter was he was little, and he wasn't a threat. Especially now that they were conversing and he had quite a few good questions for her, but all were so strange for a foal to ask. Shouldn't children his age be asking where babies come from, and why the sky is blue and why the flower are different colors? "Well, I wont run, little one. I prefer your company rather than being alone," she spoke with a softness in her voice. It seemed the night did that to her. She grew so much quieter during the night, in fears she might wake somebody from their slumber.

Maisie's offer was still standing, and she waited for him to slide closer to her side so that she could warm him, but unfortunately he came up with his own little story about talking to the dead and how he didn't feel the cold. "Oh no no, hun. You're not weird... just... different. Being different is good." She certainly didn't want to kill his fantasy. Perhaps his childish mind was creating a make believe situation where he himself was a ghost, just based off his appearance. Maybe that's how he coped with people running from him. "Ghosts, hm?" she asked in a curious tone, pretending to believe him. She was a bit of a skeptic on things like that but would never bring somebody else's beliefs down. "Well, I'm sure they come to you for a good reason. You seem like such a helpful little foal," she cooed to him.

It seemed like he was going off like fireworks all the sudden, one surprising question right after the other. "My stripes? Oh, they're apart of me. I've had them since I was a little girl. They're pretty interesting, I suppose..." she wasn't one to take compliments well and tried to hide her embarrassment by lowering her head slightly. "They're nothing to special though. Just a few glossy stripes is all..." She drew her ears back at her own insult like corrections and placed her head on the ground while she continued to stare at him with her bright eyes that pierced the night's veil of darkness.

When the topic was changed she felt relief wash over her shivering body. The idea of Cobb always seemed to brighten up her face. "Yes, my darling Son. Oh, we're not related in the literal way but he is my son and I am his mommy. I found him one afternoon just wandering about on his own. Poor darling didn't even recall his parents. So, doing what I had to I took him under my wing. I couldn't very well leave him out on his own to fend for himself... what kind of person would I be if I had done that?" She shrugged her shoulders and took a more serious stare at Shen, wondering if he had parents or anybody else out there as well. It was strange to find young ones wandering by their lonesome in the dark of the night. "Did you wander off from your mother, young one?" She felt her curiosity and need to help taking a hold of her. Wait, what did he just ask her after that? Was she happy? Oh dear, why did he have to ask that? Her spirits dived down to sorrow as she turned her head away for a moment as she tried to compose her happiness. "Why, of course I am. What is there to be sad about?" she lied right through her teeth. She had such terrible nights of emotional withdraw and self hate but they seemed to come and go. Maybe it was a mental disorder, but she didn't treat it as such. She just thought she was sensitive.

However, the final question that left the white foal's mouth sent a shiver down her spine, and she was positive that it hadn't been caused by an icy breeze. "Relay a message?" she bit her lip and her mind instantly flashed back to her mother but she shook off the memory as quickly as it had came. "No... no I don't. I have no use for getting in contact with the dead. You little one? Do you have passed away loved ones?"

At least the little one enjoyed her company. That's all she really hoped for sincerely when she first laid eye on the darling young fawn. Being alone was painful for Maisie and yet she was usually alone due to her unusual personality traits. She'd never understand what exactly drove her to be so terrified of strangers. Maybe it was the constant put downs of her step father and that lead to an undying fear of judgment and rejection. Being judged was probably one of her top fears, and she wanted so desperately to be accepted. So eagerly in fact that she tried to please everybody she met. Well, to a certain degree. She wouldn't lower her nobility by any means.

It took a moment for her to regain her thoughts and focus back on the foal. The last thing she picked up from him speaking about was that he was happy to be different from all the rest. A large grin spread across her face as he seemed to be so content with himself, and she could only dream of being that self satisfied. "Good, don't you ever let anybody tell you that it's anything other than wonderful," she encouraged his happiness and leaned in a bit more to give him a small nuzzle. If only she could take her own advice. She had to reach for him but at least he had managed to get close enough for her to touch him.

Her heart fluttered with warmth at his small compliment and she felt her cheeks blushing with embarrassment as she looked down at her stripes quickly. "You wish you had marking like these?" she asked curiously before eying her coat yet again. "We should trade then. My stripes for your spots. I quite enjoy your markings," she let her lips curl into a pleasant smile and out came a breathy laugh that warmed her cold body slightly. Yet, still there was a sort of coldness that left her shivering and her teeth chatter.

Now, all the sudden he was staring at her rump. She raises her eyebrow slightly at his line of sight and was about to ask him what he was gazing at and then he spoke. "Like you?" she spoke in a confused manner before watching his tail wiggle about. "Heh, oh yes. We are the same, you and I." She leaned forward yet again and rubbed her tiny horns against the side of his neck in a gentle manner, "And these too. Although I think yours are nearly bigger than mine already."

Finally, Maisie had found her speck of acceptance as the boy spoke such mature words about how she was very sweet for nursing Cobb when nobody else would have. She felt radiant in the compliment he had placed on her and she felt her tail give it's own twitch of happiness as she smiled at him with a gratification in her expression. "Oh, I sure do hope you will. He's quite a lovely colt. Even if his mind is only set on one thing at the moment. Hehe, girls," she gave a small giggle and rolled her eyes. A twin did he say? He was a twin? Sure, there were usually multiple foals in a birthing but twins were nearly identical. Maisie had never seen such a thing. Perhaps she could see them side by side one day. That'd be quite a sight.

Maisie's happiness seemed to melt away from her as Hania explained how his mother and father were murdered and he was left all by his lonesome with his twin sister. "Oh, that's dreadful! I'm so sorry to hear that.... and you and your sister... you're fine?" She wanted to be there for this colt, because, well, he was so sweet and such a kind hearted creature. It seemed like they were already starting to trail off that subject though. Perhaps he didn't want to talk about it? As long as he thought his mother and father were watching over him and his sister Maisie didn't feel so terrible. It's better to think you have a guardian than not to have anything at all as parents.

Sadness. That was one thing Maisie knew a lot about. It got so bad sometimes that she would just lie in a lonely puddle of tears. She would cry for hours, thinking self-destructive thoughts and withering away with no light at the end of her tunnel. That's only when things got terrible though. Only when she was left to her own vicious judgment on herself. She gave what could be assumed as a shrug and sighed, "You seem very capable of giving such sweet advice but I'm not open to talking about such things. I'm sorry... I'm just..." she trailed off and figured she'd change the direction of her sentence, "You're very in tune with your empathy, little one. You read others very well..." she smiled at him, as if it were a gift.

Maisie suddenly felt the chill of her bones get so much worse as a gust of air blew through. Well, at least Maisie thought it was a gust of wind, yet nothing moved. Everything was still, and her mane hadn't rustled about one bit. What was bringing this freezing temperature though? She stared at Hania Shen and gave the smallest chatter of her teeth, "You're not cold at all?" She asked, giving him a sympathetic stare. If he was just pretending not to be freezing then he was doing a good job because there wasn't a shiver on his skin that she could spot. Seemingly out of nowhere though the youngster spoke, and it sent chills down her spine. "W-what?" she asked as if in disbelief. She had a slight idea of what he might have meant by that but she didn't want to give her hopes up.

The mare's heart seemed to sink low as he asked if she was aware of any seeking adults looking for a foal to adopt. It wasn't that she had been looking to cake in a little handful of trouble. It was just that she couldn't find the strength in her heart to turn him away when she saw him alone. Now this little one was expressing his mourning heart to her and she was crumbling under the pressure. "I do not... though, I would more than happily give you a home and much love. That is... if you're willing to accept it." She gave a small, breathless giggle as the little colt spoke of not wanting to be a bother. So different from Cobb. So respecting and soft spoken. He was raised so well by his parents, and that made Maisie's heart grieve all the more for their sudden deaths. "You would be no burden to me, little one. I assure you of that," she smiled brightly as she nuzzled him.

When the more light hearted question came on she smiled at the cleverness of the young male. He was so skilled in leaving more serious conversations to continue ones that were easier to talk about. At least for Maisie it was easier to talk about, because she had already been starting to tear up a bit from the sympathy that was starting to flow through her emotions. "Stripes are .... well... they stick out. I'd rather... be invisible." She gave him a weak smile and a slight glance at her low self esteem.

All the sudden the tables were turned again and it was back on that same painful conversation that they were having before. He missed his mother, and Maisie missed hers. She could relate to him. She was maybe a little older than he was when her mother took her own life. That had been hard on her, but not nearly as hard as it was to survive alone. Her father had never stuck around and her step-father figure was abusive so when her mother left she was alone, only she didn't have a sibling to keep her company. "It's hard to loose a mother... I lost mine when I was your age. One of the most painful things I ever experienced..." she nuzzled him, letting him get a peek at her background. "Your memories of her will always be with you. She'll always be watching over you and guiding you." She tried to offer her comfort but that was hard to do because she could never comfort herself so how was she expected to comfort him? She had to try though. Try her hardest.

"Don't try to be anything you're not. Be yourself. You're perfect the way you are. Why would you think that you have to be like all the other foals. You're special in your own way and I love it..." she smiled at him and savored the feeling of him leaning against her. He was finally starting to relax and rest alongside of her. As he went off on their species instead of the hurtful memories she nodded, "Yes, Cerynei," she simply answered him and listened to the youngster spill his information out to her. Even if they were things she was already aware of she wouldn't interrupt. She very much enjoyed listening to how smart he was for a little foal. "I'm sure you'll have dazzling antlers just like your father. Cobb always obsesses over his own. Wants them to be big and effective." She giggled softly at the thought.

Maisie's lip quivered as he softly beckoned her to answer his standing question. "N-no.... nobody should have to go what we've been though. Nobody..." she sighed and nuzzled him. "Everything happens for a reason though. Everything has a purpose..." she sighed softly before nipping his ear lightly, just to cheer him up. "Keep doing what you're good at. Being able to read people is a gift, so use it wisely." She stared at him with adoring eyes. This child had so many wondrous things about him, but she felt like he didn't see them at all.

Maisie was concerned for his comfort most of all right now. The breeze was pretty strong but she was doing her best to shield him from the freezing temperatures. There was something different though. Something that didn't seem to fit. Maybe it was just her gut telling her that this whole situation was wrong. Hania should be with his mom and dad and she should be with hers. Why did Soquili have to die? She knew the answer to that question but didn't let it stop her from wishful thinking. Suddenly, little Shen was speaking of his mother and she widened her eyes, "Yes, that's correct, Hania..." she blinked a few times before following his gaze out to the plains. The taller grass flowing and making it seem like waves on land. "S-she does? She.... m-my mother?" she looked down at Hania, wanting to believe him but not entirely positive she could trust that spirits were real or that this foal could see them none the less.

Still, she didn't want to think that her mother could see her. Maisie was disappointed in who she was and to think her mother could see her like this was an embarrassment. "E-enough Hania..." she spoke in a broken voice, not wanting to accept it. She lowered her head to the grass and tried to let sleep take her over, "Let us go to bed.... it's getting late and a handsome little foal like you needs sleep so you can grow up big and strong." She tried to hide her sadness. Her heart yearned for her mother but she wouldn't break down. Not in front of this colt, and not for something that probably wasn't even there. It was just his imagination, or at least that's what she kept telling herself. "Sweet dreams, Hania." She sighed before shutting her eyes.