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Hm. Hmmmm. Was he supposed to take the left path...? Or perhaps the right? Or the middle.. Jeez, why did they make so many paths in the first place! Hmm indeed.

"Eenie. Meenie. Minieeee. Moe," he said jovially, glancing between the paths before finally deciding that the middle one might be perfect.

Ace, as the stallion was known by, was a large stallion but looks could be decieving; he definitely wasn't macho and manly... Even though he did have a sword. Which he considered pretty much sweet action.

And, of course, Ace was a directional idiot. To be bluntly honest, he had no idea which path would be the right one...or if he went down it, how to get back home. And where was home exactly? Heck if he knew!

He began to hum to himself, dark eyes creased into mirthful crescents as he trotted along, not minding the chilly weather nor the fact that Kalona preyed after dark and it was almost twilight.

That's when he saw her -- a fellow wanderer! She was a pretty thing, he had to admit, even from a distance, with a ripe red pelt and a green mane and tail. She resembled...mmm a strawberry! "Helloooooo there!" he called out in a happy tone, prancing up to her.

Ace froze in mid-step, surprised at the heat behind her words. "Oh..." was all that escaped his lips as she turned and began to walk away. Gosh, she was a cuuuuutie! Wouldn't he like to be friends with her, with that dark red pelt and brilliantly green mane, like a ripened strawberry princess!

"But miss! Wait!" he all but bellowed as he loped after her, spinning around in front of her and facing her, so she could go no further. He offered her a not-so-shy smile. "You look lost. Are you lost?"

Perky and persistant, toss in directional idiot and that was Ace in a nutshell! He was oblivious to the blush hidden by her fur, but even if she'd reddened, he wouldn't have noticed. His eyes were searching hers, curious, interested. He flicked his short tail and shook his head the tiniest bit. "Not lost? Then you're much better off than me, then," he laughed, not a trace of anger or bitterness in his tone. "I'm lost. Beyond lost, actually. I thiiiiink I'm going in circles -- see that rock? I think I've seen it before..." Though he actually hadn't: rocks just looked the same to this perky stallion. "Well then, if I get out of your way...perhaps I could be your travelling partner! You know... Until I got unlost! You could be doing me a huuuge favor." With that, he offered her an ornery grin.

He caught the intensity of her liquid-gold gaze and felt the tiniest tremor shiver down his spine, but he stayed put. She was a fiery girl, a spitfire, a demoness. Demoness... He liked that. She was hardly a kalona herself, but he'd never met such annoyance issued at him before! And what a brilliant annoyance that was. He all but beamed at her, still grinning. "Aw, don't turn me out on my own. I might end up at the bottom of a lake somewhere!" And he didn't know how to swim. "I can be quiet," he said with a silent promise, though they both knew he would break it in about three minutes' time. "C'mon, princess," he pleaded, his eyes widening a little. "Give me a chance..."

Ace looked at her with solemn eyes as she told him to become fish food, then lifted a knee to his chest and kind of staggered a bit, as if her words cut him, but he never stopped grinning. Girls picked on boys they liked, right? So she liked him? Score, Ace thought merrily. Strawberry-princess liked him.

As her shell shattered slightly, Ace gave a little half-buck and trotted around her. "Probably not," he admitted. "Let's go then! Lead the way princess--wait." He paused, looking thoughtful for a moment. "I never caught your name? I'm Ace!"

He trotted along beside her, keeping up her pace easily with his long legs and capable hooves. He seemed to lapse into silence as she did, wondering briefly if she was actually gonna tell him her name -- names had power for some, meant something for others. A name was a respected title. Ace, although he wasn't very proud of his name as he didn't think it was very...fun, liked hearing it when it was spoken. Especially by a girl. He gave his tail a flick and slowed.

Then she finally said it. He'd honestly expected something less feminine. Ichigo. He wondered what it meant. If it meant 'strawberry-princess' perhaps. He grinned at her. "Ichigo. Ichi..." he settled on with a firm nod. "I like it. Ace 'n' Ichi. Heehee. And don't worry, princess. I promise to only be your stalker, if you'd like." This was said almost shyly, for a moment breaking the surface before fading back into his cheerful demeanor once again.

Ace was, of course, oblivious to her dislike of the nickname he'd imbued upon her -- though he personally loved it and felt it fit the tart little mare. If perhaps it would've understood her feelings -- the worry that getting close to someone would ultimately leave you wounded and broken hearted -- perhaps he might've been a little understanding and a little less...pushy. But Ace had been a loner his whole life. He saw everyone as a friend, well except skinwalkers and kalona, of course, but they'd never really stuck around long enough for him to feel -sad- that they were gone.

Though he would have to admit if Ichigo chased him out of her life, he would be a little downtrodden. He liked her... And he hoped to get her to like him...someday. With a smile, he bobbed his head at her harsh words, tipping his ears forwards to take each one in. "I get it; you're quiet and like alone time. But surely not -all- the time, princess... Surely you like companionship. Soquili are herd-animals, they thrive on companionship and when companionship is lost... Let's face it, we get lonely. Even me!" he said brightly. "You can't tell me you'd be 100% happy if I turned and walked away without a goodbye? Can you?"