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Foliegh was feeling meditative. Only a few days had passed since his eye-opening conversation with his daughter, but it felt like an eon in terms of time he'd spent thinking. He'd imagined all sorts of dire scenarios when Aleda had told him she wanted to talk, but he had never imagined what she actually said. His little girl had told him in no uncertain terms that she felt both of them were stagnating; that Foliegh had gotten too placid and too settled in his routine, that they both needed to do more with their lives than just lie around. She said they needed to break free from their routines, enjoy some new experiences, meet new people.

And most importantly, she had said they both needed to look for love.

It wasn't that Foliegh was anti-love, by any means. He'd tested those waters once; his daughter and her brothers were living proof of that. It had been a nice enough experiment, but it hadn't worked out. Foliegh had been sad to see Nigalya go, but they both agreed it was for the best. Since then, he hadn't so much as considered looking for someone new.

Was it true, he wondered as he ambled along the bank of the creek. Was it true that he had let himself go to pot without ever once considering what else might be out there for him?

Foliegh sighed, shaking his head and shaking off his serious musings. Whether or not Aleda had a point, whether or not he's let himself go, whether or not he was wasting opportunities for true fulfillment, none of that was really worth stressing out about at the moment. If it was true, it was true; he couldn't go back in time and change what he'd already done. It was also easier said than done to change patterns that he'd established years ago, but he was willing to take baby steps on that score.

There was simply no reason to stress himself out on that score.

"There now, much better," He said to himself with the air of one who had completed an unwanted task. Worrying and stressing was not his forte, not when there were things to enjoy. Things like this beautiful day, and the lovely little creek, and the little flowers swirling along in the current. They looked like they were having fun, he thought with a smile.

And they weren't the only ones, apparently, as he finally noticed the mare splashing around in the creek. She didn't even seem to have noticed him, she was enjoying herself so much; it must be nice to have that kind of wild abandon!

Foliegh hadn't realized he was close enough for the mare to hear him, but he wasn't about to complain! He might not be a classic social butterfly, but that didn't mean he didn't enjoy having a chance to chat with a pleasant companion. True, he'd never seen anyone with a smile as enthusiastic as this mare...but you know, he rather liked that enthusiasm! It was nice to have someone so happy to see him, regardless of whether or not she was a stranger!

Truth be told, Foliegh found her enthusiasm rather infectious. Though incapable of grinning nearly as widely as she, he returned her smile with a bright grin of his own. "Hi Keetah, nice to meet you! My name is Foliegh, and I was just thinking you looked like you were having a great time in the water, there. I'm a chicken when it comes to cold water myself, but it sure is fun to watch!"

Wow, this mare did not hold anything back when it came to saying what was on her mind! If words had any physical force behind them, Foliegh didn't doubt that he would have gone rolling like a tumbleweed in a wind storm . As if was, he had to work harder than he had in a very long time to follow the conversation; a somewhat languid Soquili himself who spent most of his previous time with other slow speakers, decoding rapid-fire conversation was something unfamiliar to him.

Still, all things considered he felt he was acquitting himself beautifully! Without batting an eyelash, he gave Keetah a nod, his bright smile never faltering. "Those sound like good reasons to go in the water, Keetah; better reasons than I have to argue for staying out. And I might not look like a chicken, but I sure am acting like one, doncha think?" Chuckling, he made his way closer to the edge of the bank and peered into the creek. "Are you sure it isn't too cold? I know what you're saying, but it still looks very...brisk to me."

His daughter Aleda had been confident when she'd told Foliegh that he needed to get back out into the world, that he was otherwise in danger of becoming a relic with no knowledge of the world. He had scoffed at her; good naturedly, of course, but it was still a scoff. He might have lived in isolation for the last several years, but that hardly meant he wouldn't know what to do in an actual social situation...right?

Well, it was apparent he'd been wrong. Keeping up with Keetah's high-speed conversation was becoming harder, and he was starting to miss things in his attempt to process everything. Amusingly enough, this must be what it felt to be one of those flowers caught up in the current!

"Yes, well...scratching in the dirt isn't really my thing and I'm not really sure about the cold and..." Foliegh paused for a long moment, then broke off and gave Keetah a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, but could you repeat that a little slower? I'm not used to talking so fast, or listening so fast." He shuffled a little with embarrassment; hopefully that request wasn't out of line!