Nailiah had been grazing most of the day by herself. The sun was warm things on the ranch had calmed down. Not only did she have a child - an adopted foal named Avatre - but Athari had managed to feel the gentle tug of another azrein. Nailiah had yet to meet the one that Athari called Alistair, but the human reassured her that he was on her level...whatever that meant. Since that strange meeting at the castle, the mare had heard nothing from the stallion and wondered if he would ever come along at all. It wouldn't seem right or fair for him to just disappear on them like that now that he was considered part of the close family. And yet in her mind Nailiah didn't care. Athari was hers in every sense of the word and though the mare didn't want to admit petty jealousies, she couldn't help but feel as though her human was being taken away from her.
All the while her mind was going a figure had flown over the lands. If she had looked up, the mare would have had difficulty seeing him for his pelt helped him blend in with the skies. It was only his leathery wings that set any sort of distinction about him. Alistair McArtur Lucian was on his first visit to his bonded's home, and he was quite surprised how simply this human lived. Even though her appearance gave off one of feral quality, he half expected her to be some sort of aristocrat in disguise. However the quaint little home made him feel all the more relaxed around her. He himself had come from humble origins and would have hated to have put on heirs even more so. As he circled the area for awhile more, his blue eyes fell on the peculiar form of a white and red mare. She was...strangely stunning to say the least in a boring way. Most of the mares Alistair encountered had been trussed up to fit with their pedigree at the Lucian Castle. This was the first plain mare that Alistair had seen since he was "rescued" from the slums by Greigor and somehow it was strangely settling and refreshing. With a deep breath, he started his descent landing gracefully a few feet away from what Athari told him was the main house. He gave a grunt closing his eyes and reaching out with his mind toward his human. When he opened them, he was met with a surprise.
Silver. Pure, glowing silver eyes stared back into pale blue ones. It was the white mare who came to greet him instead of Athari. His head tilted curiously wondering why she had come. Had he called her? A brief look of confusion must have crossed his face for Nailiah gave a snort. "She sent me to greet you, Alistair. We are to be partners after all." The mare had never seen someone so...hauntingly elegant in a grotesque way. Alistair was an interesting stallion in every sense. His hair was pale, gold and fine, his markings made him appear to be one with the earth, his wings giving a deadly sort of appeal, and his eyes...his eyes were what drew her the most. Nailiah wondered what it was like for Athari to stare into those beautiful blues. The mare gave a grunt more to herself than anything to snap out of her girlish fantasy. He did indeed appear to be the aristocratic gentleman that Athari claimed him to be. But would he live up to the reputation set before him? The mare said nothing allowing him to take her in. She was something of an exotic beauty and it indeed set his heart a flutter. To look into those intricate silver eyes...how would Athari had felt the first time she had seen this mare? Her simplicity was vastly contrasted by the blood red hair that seemed to fit her all too perfectly. There must have been a fiery spirit in this mare for what else could make her so strangely alluring? Or was it simply the fact that the two were bonded to the same human? Alistair gave a gentle cough shaking his head, "Pardons, my lady. I didn't mean to look offended. I was...well I have no words." His sheepish grin made him seem boyish for a second to Nailiah who had to respond with a gentle laugh. "It is all right, Alistair. Athari says you don't travel much. I am sure this is all new."
The awkward silence then came into being as the sun warmed the both of them, the winds gently caressing their manes and tails. His wings were now tucked tightly against his body, the claws interlocked in front of him. Nailiah studied him carefully wondering if he was growing uncomfortable. Her expression was quite stoic however as she didn't allow anything else to come out much like Alistair who seemed to be radiating all sorts of expressions and emotions. The stallion seemed to notice her scrutinizing eyes however as he gave a grunt. "So you know my name. But I do not know of yours. I suggest that be remedied my lady." Nailiah was taken aback. How could Athari tell her everything of him and yet nothing of her to him? A look of pain and confusion briefly washed over her face before she gave a nervous smile. "Ahh that is...most inconvenient indeed. I am sorry Alistair...my name is Nailiah."
"Nailiah? That's...quite striking. Does it mean anything in particular?"
"Well no. As far as I know, I was named that because it was pretty and flowed. Does your name mean anything in particular, Alistair?"
"Can't say mine does a thing for me save my old master said it sounded regal. And it was the name I gave him when he found me." Alistair gave a brief cough feeling a little strange talking about Greigor. And the fact that he was with his new master now and her other azrein made it all the more awkward. Alistair had feared that he bumbled as he tried to find the words to say to remedy the situation. Then suddenly he heard giggling. Out of all the things he heard giggling. His eyes snapped to see Nailiah shaking her head a little, "Oh Alistair! You are too tense. Please calm down." Nailiah had already decided that this stallion wasn't half bad at all. That he was actually a good sort that was too worried about impressing than being himself. As much as the mare was vain and a bit jealous, she realized that Alistair was worse off than her. He had lived most of his life in a world that was pre-made for him instead of in the wilds where Nailiah and Athari had both gotten their start. She didn't necessarily feel pity for Alistair, but she felt something for him. Nailiah noticed he visibly loosened as he gave a grunt, "This doesn't have to be hard, does it Nailiah? I mean...we're both bonded to Athari and...I can feel that things will be okay. I just...I need help." His eyes gazed at her in a sense of begging. This was another world he was new to, and there wasn't much else for him to go on save for her grace and kindness. Nailiah gave a snort leaning over to move one of his locks of hair from his face. Her velvet nose gave him shivers even at the softest of her touches. "We'll learn together, Alistair. Don't you worry. Things will be all right."
Alistair and Nailiah eased into a sense of conversation after that. There were days where he would come visit not for Athari but simply for her. He had never really been close to another azrein before and for her to be willing to teach him was something that he had never had in his life. The mare had proven to be a valuable friend in this new world. The same could be said for the mare as she introduced him to her world. He was charming, funny, and blunt to the point where she thought she'd have to do damage control. His sense of honor, however, and even though he still had an air of ignorance about him, the two continued to learn from each other as well as with Athari. It was then decided that they were partners. They would leave and breath as one another did in order to serve Athari better. Their friendship continued to grow strongly over their time together and quite frankly, the two of them would never have it any other way.
