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The huntress stayed to the shadows, her ink-dark pelt blending in, spade tail swinging behind her, flicking like a cat's might. Rainbows adorned her pelt in markings, rainbows she didn't feel she deserved; rainbows were a spectrum of light, and she was kalona, a hunter, and running through her veins was the blood of a killer. Annushka pressed her eyes shut for a moment, shaking her head as if to shake out the thoughts. Thoughts of a father, cruel and twisted, blood smearing his face... Thoughts of her mother, slain and broken open in a field. Thoughts of little-Annu, running in terror through the woods as she was hunted.

There was a reason she was a bit messed up. But now, as she followed the bright-colored filly with her head in the clouds, she wasn't hunting to kill. Just...she didn't want to be alone. She was afraid, her memories too harsh, too sharp. She hadn't heard another's voice in weeks, and when she had, they'd been like her. Bad-bloods, twisted horns and fangs. Purists. Elitists.

The only thing that kept this mare from withdrawing further into her shell was the fact that it wasn't only kalona blood rushing through her veins. Her mother had been normal. Grounded, with wings of feathers instead of bat-leather. She wasn't a killer. She didn't have to be her father.

Lithium, head in the clouds, daydreaming of chasing butterflies and other foal-like dreams, didn't hear the mare stalking behind her, sliding through the shadows like liquid grace. She wasn't aware of the hoofbeats, very soft and near-silent. It wasn't until she heard a voice, calling to her from a short distance, did she zone back to reality. "Hi?" she asked, ears flickering as she tried to filter where the voice was from. Her nostrils flared--how she was taught by her mother, to scent the air like a wolf--and her tail gave a flick.

"Helllloooo!" she belted, louder and brighter than the forest around her. Then she saw him--big horns, spiky-things, wings made of bird-feathers...and his tail! "Oh my gosh..." Her jaw dropped as she trotted fearlessly up to him; he didn't look scary because her parents were creatures of darkness themselves. "Are you part chicken? Those claws..." She grinned, admiring him, then made a small circle around him. "Hi." She fluffed her own wings, thin little fragile things. "I'm Lithium Starshine!"

Tsalar blinked a couple times."Hey now,would you really want to insult a stranger?" He pinned his ears playfully."Its nice to meet you. I am Tsalar. Now tell me,what are you doing all the way out here by yourself?"Tsalar looked around to see if he could find her parents.There were no where to be found.It seemed a bit weird that she would be out here by herself,just like the filly from years ago. Hearing something behind them he turned around quickly and noticed another rainbow mare. He didn't want to blurt out and after if she was her mother."Hello there."

Annushka stood very still, heart still racing like a hare's. She eyed the stallion, whose claws looked like they could do some damage if they wanted to. Down to the filly who was now growling like a wolf. She blinked, hesitating. "Lost?" she asked, her voice low and almost husky-sounding. The tiniest smile crept onto her face when neither stranger called a witch-hunt on her sudden arrival.

"Isn't everyone lost, in a way?" She glanced sidelong at the stallion, who despite his kalona blood had a handsome yet roguish air about him. She flicked her ears back and looked out of place in the forest. "You should be afraid, little one. There are others out here, just waiting to pounce..." Once more, she skittered and looked around quickly. "Worse than me...though I think if this guy and I teamed up, we could protect you." Not that she was a fighter... But for a helpess foal? Maybe.

Lithium grinned widely. "I'm not scared. You should see my Mom and Daddy! Daddy's this tiny scary little guy with pink hair, and Momma's a real life wolf!" She barked and wagged her tail like a young pup, her enthusiasm almost contageous. When Tsalar spoke of being lost, Lith frowned. "Why are you lost? Don't you have a Mom or a Dad or a...girlfriend?" The word was secretive and giddy, like she herself dreamed of a prince charming. "And what's your name? I'm Lithium and this is Tsalar, he's my new buddy!" she said, looking at Annushka, who looked more jumpy than Daddy always seemed. Maybe she was misunderstood too!

"A wolf? How interesting!"He smiled and nodded his head.Tsalar shook his head."I have a mother and father,but i don't know them.A girlfriend on the other hand,no."Tsalar playfully rolled his eyes and snorted at Annushka. "What about you? No boyfriend?"He flicked his chicken tail.It seemed the three of them all had their own flaws.

"Who's asking?" Annushka actually laughed, the sound wild and rare, as the stallion flagged his feathered tail in almost a strutting manner, for once in a long time feeling...wanted, welcomed in a conversation that was purely simple and not about the next hunt. She may've looked like a kalona, but her heart just wasn't in it. Rabbits and birds were one thing, but the sickly and weak in a herd? That idea made her sick.

She shook her head, wings tucked against her sides. "No boyfriend, no mate, no suitors. I'm free as a bird..." Then she did something she didn't usually do--she gave away one of her flaws. "I...actually hate being alone." And she was afraid of the dark, but that nugget she kept hidden away. To Lithium, she smiled, gentler now as her anxiety eased. She was safe, in that moment. "I'll help you. What about you, Tsalar? You in?"