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Serenity. Pure, blissful serenity, wrapping him up in a cocoon of contentment. Everything about this night was appealing; from the gentle glow of the moonlight to the cool of the breeze. It was the sort of night for thought, for meditation, for prayer. Hayalet had rejoiced in the night's energy from the first moments of dusk when he realized just how pleasant the night would become; now that it was full dark, he was basking in the fulfillment of that realization.

He had started the evening on his plateau, as he often did. Hayalet had chosen his home based on several criteria, most significant of which had been the size and the view. The plateau extended out from a small cave that would be hard-pressed to house four adult Soquili; the plateau itself was larger, but the smooth and rocky surface meant that anyone up enjoying the view would have to tread carefully. But oh, what a view! A finger-like projection of rock stuck out past the edge of the plateau itself, extending up and out at an angle. This finger was large enough for only one Soquili, and that Soquili would always be Hayalet. From that projection of rock, he could see the Kawani lands spreading out beneath him for miles, a patchwork quilt of meadow and forest, river and lake. How many hours had he spent there, immobile in body but frenzied in spirit, deep in meditation or prayer for the Soquili and Kawani below?

It was only recently he had begun to take that action one step further. Now, instead of staying above, remote and removed, he was venturing down into the Kawani lands himself. Now, he was walking among the people he'd so often prayed over, so often thought about. He still wasn't completely at ease with the land below, but it felt right to him, to be here. To try to make a tangible difference, not just a spiritual difference.

He was walking along, deep in these thoughts as he strode along near the base of the mountain. The light summer breeze caught his dark hair, causing it to swirl around him like a dancing dream. It was on nights like this that his name, Hayalet, lived up to its literal translation: ghost. Between his swirling hair and his pale body, he looked to be more an apparition than a physical being.

But a physical being he was, with physical senses. And it was hos eyes that fist noticed the mare, standing tensley at the base of his mountain not twenty paces away. With her dark coat, she seemed poised to blend into the night, ready to fade away into dreams and imagination. Except few dreams were that tense. Coming to a stop, Hayalet looked at the mare for a few long moments, then asked quietly, "Is everything alright?"

Hayalet was working on being a physical presence in the world, but there were obviously snags left to be worked out. For starters, he needed to work on his manner; specifically, his manner in dealing with strangers. He'd thought he was being polite and courteous, keeping a safe distance being generally non-threatening. However, from the way the mare reacted, the frightened twirl to the raised hackles to the fearful edge in her voice, it was clear he had a lot of work to do. Perhaps one day he would get this 'non-threatening' thing sorted out.

In the meantime, he took a few very large, very pronounced steps backwards, away from the mare. If his closeness bothered her at 20 paces, maybe it would be easier to handle at 22 paces, or 23. He didn't like to leave anyone in such a panicked state, much less to actually cause it!

For a few long moments, they simply regarded each other, then the mare asked her cryptic question. For his sake? What benefit would he get from from her not being well? He didn't try to hide the perplexed expression on his face as he tried to sort that one out; until she clarified her fears further, it didn't even occur to him that she suspected him of devious intentions. Once he realized she was literally afraid of him, that opened an entirely new line of thought. He being a danger to anyone was such a ludicrous thought that it would provoke laughter if Hayalet was anyone else. He wasn't given to boisterous displays of humor, though, and he had enough sense to know that showing any sign of amusement at her fear would go over poorly. So he simply stood there considering the mare and her words for a few moments more.

When he did speak, it was softly, gently. There was nothing he could do about his deep voice, but he could temper the delivery of his words, and he would. "I don't know where you're from, or what you might be running from, but I don't mean you any harm. You, or anyone else." As he spoke, he very carefully and deliberately fanned his wings, showing off their feathery Angeni-ness, then smiled, showing his very normal, non-pointy teeth. "I really do just want to know if you're ok. You look troubled, and I'd like to help if I can."

As the mare stepped closer, Hayalet remained motionless. Obviously something he'd said or done had made an impression on the mare, that she was suddenly closing the distance between them, but he didn't want to get cocky and risk spooking her. It was possible that it was mere curiosity that was driving her; while he knew curiosity could be a powerful motivator, he also knew that it had little staying power. It didn't take much to stop a curious Soquili in their tracks, especially when the curious Soquili was already proving to be so skittish.

So he stood his ground, allowing the mare to move as close to him as she wished. Just as she counted the steps of her approach, so to did he, thought he counted internally, motionlessly. And when she worked up the courage to ask him a question in a semi-normal voice, he couldn't help but smile in relief. Perhaps he could salvage this meeting, after all!

Though he wished he could give that question a positive answer; she seemed embolden by the possibility they had a mutual acquaintance, and he wished that were so. "Hrm...Maion. I'm afraid that name doesn't ring any bells for me, but I have to admit I'm rather...new to socialization in these parts. I'm usually a mountain dweller, you see," he added with a smile. "But I take it this Maion is a fellow Angeni? I'm sure if that is the case, he is a very pleasant Soquili; I've never met an Angeni who was anything else, though I would have to admit a bias; my father, Cyn Genaris, is the Angeni of Time," Hayalet added with a modest head bob.

But he wasn't going to be one of those Soquili who prattled on about mundane things, like the weather and his family and the quality of the various available grazing choices. Those were surefire ways to kill a conversation, even if they did have the advantage of being safe topics. So as the mare inched forward, he continued smoothly, "But he isn't me, though I can assure you I think I'm a safe fellow. My name is Hayalet, but you can feel free to call me Haya. I've never stood much on ceremony when it comes to my name, particularly with it being so long." Hayalet allowed himself a small chuckle there, and gently folded back his wings. Good manners made him want to ask her name, but somehow that question seemed...well, too personal, given her nervous nature. He'd much rather she offer it on her own.

So he simply maintained his casual air, still standing in the exact same spot. Best to let her control the speed of this encounter; he would show her he wasn't a vicious or dangerous fellow if he had to turn to marble in the process! "Perhaps one day I'll have the opportunity to meet this Maion, especially if he lives in this region as well. I'm finding it very pleasant so far; there a lot more greenery than up in the mountains, even if the view is a little...shorter."