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Rules were established for a reason! Boundaries existed for her safety. Mama never really wanted to say no, but she couldn't very well go about doing whatever she wanted whenever she pleased. It was important for Dagny to divide her time between exploring and learning useful things.

Yeah, she was told all that on a regular basis, but it didn't mean she liked the idea of it. Nose to the ground, rump high in the air, she followed the trail of something sweet and appetizing. Unbeknownst to her, a solitary hawk trailed along in the skies behind her, keeping a watchful eye on the filly as she strayed from her mother. As far as Dagny was concerned, she was very much alone and ready for an adventure -- and a tasty snack.

Her nose led her to the base of a tree and she stopped, lifting her head and glancing about surreptitiously. Nobody was around, so --

Wait!

Someone was around!

Spying a vaguely familiar shape, she frowned, tucking her wings close to her sides and considering her options. He looked like the colt she'd met a day prior, but she couldn't be sure. Her options were clear, but each was equally tempting: she could follow her nose to the source of the sweet smell, or she could approach the colt and be amused for a little while.

Her head won out over her stomach, surprisingly.

Trotting over to where the colt was, she began to pick up her hooves grandly, head held high and erect as she went. Her wings she spread daintily to either side of her, a bright smile on her face as she called out, "Hello! Hello, do you remember me?"

She tipped her head to the side and stopped a respectable distance away, eyes wide and curious.

Satisfied that this was a friend and not a stranger, Dagny broke into a full trot and joined him at his side. There were certain advantages that knowing someone brought; when they'd first met, she wouldn't have been able to be so impolite as to brazenly inspect him, but now that it was their second meeting, she felt that anything went. With this in mind, she examined him with open and honest curiosity, no malice in her face.

"I'm deliberately lost again, of course!" His wings were much larger than hers, though that could also have to do with his age -- he didn't seem to be quite as young as she was. They were also composed of something entirely different, and didn't look to be as soft as hers. Extending her neck, she peered at them for a moment, then quickly trotted a half-circle around him. "It's quite fun. And you? Are you still exploring from yesterday, or have you embarked on a new journey?"

She held one wing straight out at her side, the other half-cocked, looking for all the world as ridiculous as she was. Still, it was apparently impossible to embarrass Dagny; she was too new to the world to realize that she ought to regulate her behavior somewhat, and too excited by the prospect of knowing more to hold her tongue. No one ever found out anything by being quiet, anyway, right?

"Wanderlust?" Dagny tucked her wings back to her sides, pressing them as close as she could to her body, and frowned. She'd never heard that word before! Of course, there were many words she'd never heard, given that there were so many of them in existence and she'd only been in existence a short time, but it seemed like such a fun word. If it was only one word! It sounded a bit like it might be two. Wander lust! A lust for wandering!

But what was lust? Of course she knew what wandering was. If her hooves weren't wandering her mind was, and generally to lively, sportive things. But lust! That was also a word she didn't know.

If he'd gotten it from his father, it must be something substantial, however. Parents didn't simply pass on fancy ideas, after all! If you were going to brag about obtaining something from a parent, it was more than likely you could show it off -- or at least, that was what Dagny thought.

Sliding her lower lip out, she contemplated it a moment longer, and then asked, "What's a wanderlust? Is it some kind of moving thing? Oh, or is it a sickness?"

Wide-eyed, she brought her wings up and over her face, covering her nose and peeking out from between muted-colored feathers. "I'm very young to be sick, you know, so if it's a sickness you'd best give it back to your father. I want none of it."

Wanderlust didn't sound like a sickness at all. Why, that sounded exactly like what Dagny felt for life in general! There was so much of the world to see, and she had only been given two eyes. It was a travesty. Unfair! Unjust! She thought she ought to at least have an eye for each limb, and a couple on her rump besides. She was certain that she missed things going on behind her when she was bravely charging forward, after all.

Pondering her distressing lack of eyeballs was leaving her pitifully out of the conversation, however. Eyes darting to his face, she held her gaze on him for a solid five seconds, attention riveted. Oh, how lovely to travel with your father! Dagny had yet to meet her fathers, but she was very much looking forward to it. Perhaps they had the wanderlust as well. Wouldn't that be lovely, having your entire family wandering about, exploring the whole world? There were so many things they could see together!

Well, except Mama, as Mama was blind. Poor Mama, she thought, expression clouding. Not being able to see! Dagny thought it must have been the most cruel thing in the world to be born without sight. Already she'd seen so many beautiful things!

But there her mind was, wandering again! Crow's feet!

"You seem to be very lucky, and very knowledgeable." Satisfied by this estimation of him, she sidled closer, seeking to ease herself under his wing as she often did with her mother. As he was bigger than her, that obviously meant he was older than her, and considering he knew things she did not, that must mean he was very wise! It was a good idea to snuggle wise people. It let them know you cared!

She beamed at him. "I think anyone would enjoy a little wanderlusting with you! I must have wanderlust as well, I think, and so must my Mama. I wonder if my papas have it." She was practically shivering with excitement at the thought. "A whole family of wanderlusters! Isn't that the most divine thing you've ever heard of?"

Meet -- meet more Soquili? The excitement of that prospect was enough to distract her from wondering about her papas, and she sucked in a quick, quiet breath in anticipation. Mama often spoke of those she'd met in her travels, and she assured Dagny that they would meet many more, so surely this must be the beginning! If they were relatives and friends of her friend Cori, then they also had to be good and wise and likely older than her as well. Perhaps they could be friends for her mama!

Sometimes, she really worried about Mama. (It was alarming how short a period of time "sometimes" was, given she'd barely been running amok in the open world, but Dagny tried not to trouble herself with tiny details like that.) Always moving about as she was, it was difficult to make friends! Or at least, it seemed that way. There was Vrabel, of course, but he was a bit too cranky to be considered a friend. He never wanted to play.

But Cori had invited her to go traveling! And meet others! It was almost too much to bear.

Her excitement not allowing her to remain tucked against his side, she wriggled free of his gasp and danced in a quick, jubilant circle. "That would be lovely! Mama would surely agree, I'm sure she would, so I'll ask for her permission directly when I get home."

After a brief pause, she added, "Would Mama be allowed to come with? I'm very able to travel on my own," she added, puffing out her chest. "but it's just that I worry about Mama all by herself. I think since we are friends you ought to also be friends with my mama. We are friends, aren't we?"

Golden eyes settled on his face again, anticipation as evident in their expression as it was in her still pose, breath sucked in and held fast. Surely they were, weren't they?

Oh! She'd made her first friend! Mama was going to be so very proud when she went home and told her this story. She dug her hooves into the ground a bit, impressed by how springy the soil was, and beamed him her brightest smile.

Friends! So excellent.

"This is all most excellent," she said, clearly beyond pleased with herself, him, and the entire situation. "Mama is waiting for me back around the bend, so if you'd like to come visit, that would be wonderful! I bet that old bird is around, too; he is always sneaking after me. I believe he thinks I'm going to have a great deal of fun without him, which is silly, as he hardly ever wants to have fun when we're alone together."

She shook her head, rusting her wings at her sides, and then extended one to tap him lightly on the nose. "Come along, then! Let's go meet Mama, if that's all right. She'll adore you."

Dagny needed no more encouragement. Eager to impress her new friend - her best friend by all accounts - she trotted merrily ahead, tail flicking excitedly behind her. Oh, mama was going to be so impressed. And he was such lovely colors! She was going to very much enjoy describing Coridan to her mother, right down to the feathers on his curious wings.

"After this, perhaps tomorrow, I may meet you father!" it ought to have been a question, but it wasn't. Of course Cori would want to introduce his best friend to his important people as soon as possible. Nothing else made sense! "I am very excited. Is he much like you?"

"Mama is wonderful," she said, having to pause so that the words could burst from her with all the enthusiasm they merited. "Oh, you'll love her. She's amazing. She's funny and kind and gives the best snuggles! And she plays the most fun games, and even when I am frightened of things she says that's absolutely fine and I feel safe and so happy."

Chattering happily, she took to hopping rather than just walking, her wings fanned out to either side of her so that she could feel the wind under them. Hop, hop. "Today is a resting day! So Mama said I could explore a bit. I know just where to find her, so there's no worry of getting lost or misdirected."

Before them, a hawk with muted colors descended, making a beeline for a rather tall mare that was lounging beneath a tree. Her coloring was very similar to Dagny's own, save for a lack of brown; she had wings as well, but many more than her daughter. There was no mistaking the family relation, however, as the mare's head lifted and Dagny cried out joyfully, "Mama!" as she rushed over.

Butting her head up against her mother's, Dagny nuzzled her enthusiastically, saying, "Mama, I've brought a friend! Cori! Cori, come meet my mama."

Ears perked toward where the scent of another soquili originated from, Celandine didn't bother to attempt to hide her enthusiasm and good cheer as she greeted, "Hello! Dagny, honey," she laughed, nudging her daughter's cheek with her nose. "Deep breath! Let your friend get a word in edgewise. Hello, Cori," she added, grinning as Dagny sucked in an enormous breath and held it, cheeks puffed.