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Clear...clear...clear...

Hayalet was feeling cautiously optimistic. It was a lovely sunny summer day, a light breeze was blowing, and, most importantly, his ground length mane appeared to be spider free! You might laugh, but spiders infesting his mane was a serious problem for him. He never would have thought spiders were a genetic problem, but his father had always been a haven for the little arachnids, and since Hayalet's mane and tail had grown out he had been fighting the same scourge. Cyn had never minded the spiders, but then, he'd never been afraid of them. They still gave Hayalet the willies, though, and it was a constant battle to keep them away.

Really, he ought to just try and coax one of his bird friends into becoming a permanent companion, something along the lines of an oxpecker. He would be ok having an oxpecker...

Finishing his hair examination, Hayalet stretched his wings wide and tilted his head back towards the sky. Really, the world was such a nice place; he ought to have made an effort to join it years ago. He loved his little plateau, but it could be drafty; it was sunny, but bare. Down here, there was everything; grass and flowers, streams, trees. There might even be some peace to be had, he couldn't say.

What to do, what to do. Having finished his spider inspection, Hayalet could focus on more important things; however, he had no idea what those more important things were. When he'd originally started to make these excursions down the mountain side, he had had a purpose; it had been shortly after the Kalona herd invasion, and he had been seeking peace and comfort for the affected. He had walked the burial fields and the battle fields, praying for the Soquili who had died, been injured, been orphaned, become homeless. He had never had the gift of physical healing, but he had always felt a strong connection with the spirit world and hoped his prayers would bring some comfort.

He had even picked up a pair of house guests on one of those excursions; the flutter twins who had accepted his offer of hospitality as they searched for a new home. That had worked out better than Hayalet could have hoped; they were pleasant and courteous Soquili, and their presence was a reminder that once in a while, he WAS capable of doing real good.

But that had been months ago; as far as he knew, there was no ongoing tragedy or event where he might be able to assist. Yes, it was a good thing there was no tragedy, but it left him feeling a wee bit adrift. He was reflecting on the backwardness of it all when a flash of blue caught his eyes. Was someone else here?

Yes, it was definitely blue, Hayalet thought in the split second he found himself looking at a strange mare. He had to give her credit, she was certainly a dexterous and determined mare, climbing along in the rocks with no wings to help or support her! He himself had never been much of a climber, and relied on his four wings to get him where he needed to be. His own home was much, much higher up in the mountains, and would be a long hike via the twisting mountain paths. This spot was more accessible, but still!

And blue, indeed! Where had his manners gone?

Shaking his mane back out of his face so that the mare could actually see him, Hayalet gave her a warm, friendly smile. "Please, don't worry about it; you're not intruding in the least. I'm just taking a bit of a stopover here myself, and have no claim to keep anyone else out." Smiling, he stepped a little bit to the side, allowing her more space on the little plateau if she wanted to take it. "You must be quiet tired, scampering about on the rocks like that. I'm quite impressed with your athleticism; I can't handle climbing myself, and I'm completely dependent on these to get me where I need to be." As he spoke, he fanned out his wings, all four of them on display for a few brief moments before he furled them back to his sides.