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There wasn't a thing that could stop her. Even as a foal Aurora was fast and her long awkward legs propelled her further and further away from her family. There was a slice of her heart that longed to be away from them even if only for a short time. Could I run forever? Aurora found herself a few miles away from where her parents were, but she was anything but lost. She had traveled the paths of the dense and gnarled woods many times with her siblings. While her siblings would normally be chatting wildly about one friend or another, Aurora would chase after them and their friends quietly.

She was often ignored and seen as being stuck up or painfully shy. She would hover closely to her siblings and their friends in hope they'd all understand that she wasn't trying to be creepy, she was trying to make a social connection. There he was, all the foals wanted to play with him. So unlike the others who gawked at his athleticism Aurora marched proudly up to him and pranced sideways trying to get him to play with her. He watched her for a moment and made a face. He didn't hurt her feelings, but it got her riled up. So riled up that she threw her hind legs back in a bucking motion, her eyes wild with fury. The other foals let out cries and the playing ceased immediately as the adults swarmed in to scold the bucking and thrashing filly.

Instead of giving herself up to the discipline that would follow, Aurora bolted away. Maybe her feels were hurt. No one was playing with her and all she wanted was for someone to play with her and attempt to treat her like a friend.

Aurora panted and finally slowed her pace, twisting her head to check to see if anyone was following her. She stopped entirely and held her breath for a brief moment to listen for her parents who would likely try to follow her. No noise. Aurora's chin tilted up a bit in defiance as she moved close to a stream that trickled past the path in a bubbling cascade.

Aurora paused just before she bent to take a drink. Her whole body froze upon hearing the voice and the screaming. She stood still while she felt the approach of...something.

Work?

Aurora looked behind her to spot another foal behind her. At first, his sudden presence had startled her, but for the briefest of moments she wondered if he had been one of her sibling's friends who chased after her. He didn't look familiar to her though, so her tail flicked side to side to show him that she meant no harm to him. She took a few eager steps towards him.

She mouthed the word to him: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Hi.

She noted that he had appeared to be sneaking up towards her. Her ears slicked back, wondering if he was dangerous. She dipped her head down close to the ground in an act of silent submission and gentleness, but her tail still swished back and forth in a friendly manner. Her eyes wide for a moment, searching back and forth around his face for a cue as to his intentions.

She mouthed some words again to him, but this time it wouldn't be possible to decipher just by watching.

Are you lost, friend?

Aurora wasn't sure that she got the reaction she wanted. He was, of course, somewhat threatening. What was he expecting then? She tensed up as he moved closer to her. She was ready to defend herself if the need came, but she remained still.

She again mouthed words to him in response:test "I'm not shy. I can't talk."

She took a step backwards, one of her feet plunging into the stream. She was embarassed and humiliated at her lack of grace, but more importantly, her inability to vocalize anything to him. She chewed on her lip as if trying to will herself to blurt out something audibly for him to hear. However, the young filly was born without vocal chords and all that would escape her would be sounds similar to coughing. She'd often mouth the words, but wouldn't try to add the sound.

So, she mouthed the words this time and tried to add the voice behind it. All that came out was the painful scratching sound of a series of coughs.

I'm not shy. I'm trying...I'm trying....I'm trying so hard.

Again, humiliated she took another step back, standing in the water. She looked down at the water encasing around her legs.

Just run, fool. You know how it ends.

She stood straight, trying to act proud and defiant. However, this time it was apparent she was struggling with something bigger than she was. She kept glancing up the trail, making sure no one else was following her from her previous events. She then turned her head to glance into the direction from which she believed he came. Would there be others just as threatening?

Her eyes slowly turned back to him and she mouthed something at him.

You won't kill me easily.

Aurora watched him carefully as he entered into the stream with her. She drew in a deep breath and carefully looked up at the green canopy above them. She waited for a loud crack of action, but none came. Instead, they both stood together in silence for a few moments before he spoke.

"What voices?"

She thought this silently to herself, but if he would notice her facial expression would give away her own curiosity. She could sense the dispersing tension and her muscles began to relax, but she continued looking around curiously for the source of the voices he mentioned. She could tell by the closing of his eyes that what he was saying was the truth and was no longer a large threat.

However, she would stay. She wasn't sure where else she could be. If he needed a friend, a true friend, she could offer that to him. She quietly wondered how long it would be before he'd grow tired of the silence. However, she would entertain the idea that she had a friend, even if it was temporary. She wasn't about to relinquish the opportunity to prove to someone that she was worthy of social interaction with a bit of patience.

She leaned down to catch his eyesight, trying to catch his eye contact. She was investigating to gather some information about this strange male. She had so many questions, but no way of asking. Instead, she'd remain open to be a lock box for whatever secrets or sentiments he wished to share.

The tension released, she began to flick her tail again in a gentle motion in a hope that he'd notice that she meant no harm, but more importantly...that she would like him too.

She threw her head towards the direction where they had been before
entering into the water as a way to respond. She held his eye contact to
show that she was directly responding to him. In fact, she stepped briefly
onto the bank of the stream and nodded, but then leapt back into the stream.
The water splashed a little around her and she gave a big shake of her head.

Yes, you scared me before. Now? No.

She could see that he was looking in all the directions she was, but she had
no way of directly telling him about why she was there. She was sure that
he'd eventually piece it all together. She wasn't about to insult his intelligence
by trying to spell out her past. She was a foal without a voice, it doesn't take
too much creativity to guess what kind of past she has had.

She sloshed through the water to stand close to him. Her head dropped to
the side a tiny bit and she inhaled to show that she was relaxed now. Her tail
moving slowly from side to side in the babbling stream.

Aurora blinked as he gently touched his nose to hers and watched as he
performed out a series of other actions. She understood. She understood
everything exactly.

She gave a small nod and moved to stand beside him. She appreciated the fact
that he was trying to communicate with her in the same way as she was. It
made her feel less awkward and a part of her felt like it could be a rewarding way
for both of them to learn about each other.

I understand. You don't need to worry around me.

She wasn't one to be playful, but she was finally feeling able to allow her
guard to start to fall. He seemed more relaxed as well, which brightened up
her spirits. She almost forgot about the reason why she had escaped to here
to start with.

Then, the thought struck her like lightning and she paused to look at him. Her
eyes lit up and she bent down again. She had no name in her head to call
him, but he was in the same situation. Instead of feeling the threat she had
felt before she felt a sense of security with him. He was treating her like an
equal.

Aurora leapt back with a playful huff of air escaping her nose. She winced as the
droplets of water splashed up onto her. She moved away from him a few steps as
if she were walking in front of him. She looked back to see if he was a safe
distance back, before quickly throwing herself onto her front legs and pushing
her back legs up into the air. The water splashed out in a larger wave back at
Cayme.

She spun back around to face him and bent down as if the very picture
innocence. It was clear though, that she was equally playful and eager to learn
about him. She hadn't spent the time until now to admire him. However from
where she stood now she admired his dark charcoal coat that faded into a
snowy dust at his feet. His dark mane and tail both rivaling the beauty of a
midnight sky. Then, there was the heart that seemingly carved into him. He
had a charm to him, but the charm was all beneath these physical attributes.

She could sense the seriousness that he held in him. She could see who he
was, everything he wanted to be and everything he was going to be residing in
two perfectly colored blue eyes. Once she had finally caught sight of his eyes,
she understood that there was something tormenting him. There was a
release of that stress at the moment. She wasn't sure what released him from
the stress, seriousness and anger, but she was bound and determined to be
his guardian from all that tormented him.

Even if she was just a mute filly.

A momentary streak of boldness, she bolted forward and touched her nose to
his to seize his attention. She was clearly trying to grab his attention so she
can relay precisely what she needed him to understand.

She then puffed up her chest and winked to show that she was strong. She
then mimicked his earlier motion that revealed to her that he was mean to
others. She showed him now that she was ready and willing to be there to
protect him even when he was like that.

She looked at him and only lowered her head to see if he was still watching.
She desperately searched his face for a clue that he understood that she was
ready and able to be the truest of friends to him. She wouldn't understand
right now what that would mean, but she knew that if he was taking the time to
understand her right now, he was worthy of her love and friendship no matter
the dark places that it might lead.

Aurora watched all of his expressions. She had always thought that she had
been the one who could be read easily, perhaps she found her opposite. She
noticed the distant look on his face. She didn't dare disturb the thoughts that
were now seeded in him. Once he finally returned from his reverie his words
sent a flood of heat across her face. She knew well of his warning about who he
was and how he acted with others.

She stood motionless under the warmth of his resting chin on the top of her head.
While she fully comprehended what he was telling her, none of his words were
going to elicit a negative response from her. She would draw her own
conclusion when an action of his would require it. She wasn't the type of filly
who would trust the metaphysical or the unseen, but she almost felt chills at
this time. She couldn't dismiss the uncanny understanding that he seemed to
have of her. Was this some clicking gear of the heavenly fates that brought
this strange creature sneaking up on her? While she might not believe outright
in the spirits of the world, she wasn't about to spat in the face of odd circumstance.

She hooked her own chin down to grip lightly on his neck in a comforting
motion. While she might not fully understand his demons, he'll never be able
to fully understand hers either. The two of them could make blind stabs as to
what the other was battling, she had the sincere intent to grow alongside him.
If he were a monster, then allow him to be his own monstrosity, just as long as
she could have the peace and safety within his presence. For the first time in
her life she could release the grip and could sink back to allow another to have
power and leadership. Fighting for oneself was frustrating and frankly, she was
exhausted having to fight for herself. The pain from all her prior mistreatment
might slowly come to an end. Even if it was only him. As long as he valued her
company.

She finally inhaled and pulled away to look at his face. How could she not like
who he was? Aurora was captivated by the mystery that haunted him. If he
was investing himself in her, she would fight away all of his fears and pain. He
didn't appear to be the type who would vocalize his emotions or his thoughts.
This was fine with her, since she couldn't voice hers either.

In an effort to wipe away the seriousness she broke away playfully, letting her
tail swish in the water. As she walked away, she began to grow uneasy while
thinking of whatever he had been chasing before. He HAD been chasing
something and now the returning memory of that worried her. She quickly
turned her head back to him, the skin on her neck flinching a few times to
show him that she was worried. Her eyes flicked around to show him that she
was worried about whatever he had been after.

Are we being watched?

Her eyes finally rested on him. She didn't want or need any full details, just a
few words as to whether or not they were safe.