Despite the predictable humidity in the air, it was a pleasant evening in the dark of the forest. A quiet inhalation of the gentle breeze that blew through the dense foliage informed the dark stallion that a rainstorm was on its way, but the news wasn't at all unwelcome.
Wythe was a solitary being, preferring to keep to himself amongst the thickest brush within the deepest recesses of the forest, with only the occasional passerby or small animals to share his time with. A recluse by nature, he preferred the solitude of the forest to contact with even the most quiet of visitors, choosing to isolate himself where few would dare to venture. Without the common interactions that defined the lives of most of the Soquili occupying the lands outside of the forest, any skills he may have possessed in social settings were sorely lacking, although it made little difference in the home that he had cultivated.
Today, however, there had been an unexpected interruption to his solitary routine.
While he was accustomed to the forest protector Morrow's occasional appearance, they were largely quiet and amiable events without the need for awkwardness or a prompt to fill any unwanted silences. Wythe might hesitate to call them friends, but the blind creature was certainly not an enemy, and perhaps a bit too familiar to be a simple acquaintance. His arrivals were always preceded by a soft greeting that reached beyond the dark shadows that normally ensconced Wythe in their protection, though he wondered endlessly how Morrow always managed to know exactly where he was without traditional sight. Today, no such greeting alerted him, and the fir between his scales stood on end as he reluctantly ventured forth to investigate the disturbance.
It took a moment to make out the petite form of the mare stumbling through the path of leaves and thick roots that wound through his unspoken territory. She was unfamiliar- despite his preference for the contrary, he did occasionally encounter visitors or trespassers- and the wings that adorned her back were wholly strange to his eyes. Her coat was bright, offering a stark contrast to the dark colors that surrounded her, although his own patterns didn't strike the eye as subtle, either. Still, he watched her warily, noting a distant curiosity that made him shift uneasily from one hoof to another, undecided on whether or not to speak up and make her aware that he stood only a few feet away.
She looked, for the moment, to be lost, her own steps unsure and hesitant, and more than once he observed her looking over her shoulder, as if hoping a sudden light would help her find her way. He deliberated for a few more moments, part of him hoping she would spot him in the darkness and offer the first words so he wouldn't have to, but eventually made the choice to offer his help, if only to send her on her way faster. Hesitantly, he cleared his throat, speaking quietly to the stagnant air.
"...Hello... are you lost?"
