Alsu shifted, lifting one hoof and then the other, as she tried to find the courage to move from her little patch of dirt. She'd given a heartfelt presentation on why they should have children, well raise children, and Spice Burn had agreed! That should have been the end of it, really.

Except she'd opened her big dumb mouth and volunteered to journey to the nearest temple of Hera to ask for a blessing. Because she was stupid. Delightfully, especially stupid.

Spice Burn had offered to come with her, but she'd wanted to be independent and show him how much it meant to her that he'd agreed. (Again, she was stupid. That had surely been established by now.) And the journey was easy enough, really. It was just that pesky courage to move and talk to someone that eluded her.

A sigh deflated her chest as she looked at the temple. There was even a hoi grazing just outside of the stone pillars that welcomed all to venture inside. And still, she hesitated. It was too late to go back and get Spice Burn now. Besides, that would be embarrassing, to admit she'd made it all the way here and crashed out without even attempting to talk to anyone.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered, teeth clenched as she warred with herself. It was just a question. A relatively simple one. And Hera disciples were made for this! It was—

"I think we were made for more than that," a voice interrupted, "but we, at least I, enjoy it."

Alsu blinked, turning her head to find the previously grazing hoi was now in front of her.

"I, er, I said that . . . " she trailed off, eyes widening as she tilted her head back. Could the ground open up and swallow her now? Please!? (It did not.)

"I am so sorry, I didn't meant to say any of that, and I didn't meant to imply that you only helped hoi increase their, um, foals! I just. I mean, I want to have foals and Spice Burn agreed and I said I'd come here and ask and then I got here and I was scared and I'm so so so so sorry!" the pink hoi spit out in a rush. If she hadn't been pink already, she would have been now.

Mazhar opened his mouth, closed it, and wondered if he should have run the other way. But she was clearly desperate and maybe a little manic. It wouldn't have been right to leave her now. (That didn't mean that part of him didn't scream to run, though.)

"It's all right," he opted for instead.

Alsu breathed, "I'm really bad at this. I mean, I've never done it before, either. Is there something—oh, no, was I supposed to bring a gift? Or—"

"No!" Mazhar shouted before the other hoi could start in. "No, there's no requirements for it. You just have to ask and I commune with Hera so that she knows that you have a full heart for more foals," he explained, a bit more gently.

Oh, thank Hera!

Alsu tried to breathe the tension from her body, "That's wonderful!"

So all she had to do was ask. She could do that!

The pink hoi raised her head high, shifted her shoulders back, and looked at the other hoi. Only, she hadn't even asked him its name! Oh, she was terrible! Why had she never been this bad with Spice Burn? She should have made him come along!

With a grumble of reproach at herself, Alsu lost her confident stance, "What's your name?" The question was timid and a touch surrender.

"I'm Mazhar," he replied softly. His earlier misgivings were now replaced by a sharp feeling of compassion. This poor mikroi was struggling to see herself as doing the proper thing. "I haven't asked you your name, either," he tried to reassure her.

"Oh, my name is Alsu," she sighed. "I'm not usually this horrid, you know? I just really wanted to make Spice Burn proud and happy and show everyone that I'm capable." She kicked lightly at the ground with a hoof. "But I've really mucked it all up."

"Nonsense, Alsu. As I said, there's no requirement here. And I can clearly see how much love you have for Spice Burn and the idea of having foals. You've done a very good job at showing all of that!"

The pink hoi smiled, faintly.

"I'd be quite honored to help you."

"I'd like that, if you wouldn't mind sending Hera our desire to have more foals." Because she did want more foals. As many as Hera and the other gods would give them. She had so much love to give, even if she was a bit of a mess with everything else.

Mazhar smiled, nodding, and then lifted his chin into the air as his eyes closed.

"Dearest Hera, I call to you to announce that Alsu and Spice Burn have chosen to step on the path to parenthood. They have come to me to ask for a full group of young. I can see that they are full of love and I believe they will make strong and caring parents," Mazhar sent towards the heavens where the Gods resided.

It was a feeling, more than anything, but it helped a little that a peacock chose that moment to scream. It was a familiar sound to him. The peacocks did this every breeding season to draw in the peahens. But to others, it was often startling.

Mazhar laughed, soft, as Alsu's eyes widened, "Hera has heard your request and given you her blessing."

"Oh, oh," Alsu gasped, moved and delighted and terrified. The responsibility of raising foals suddenly pressed upon her, but she'd have Spice Burn to help. That loosened the terror.

"Thank you!" she cried out, suddenly eager to rush back to her friend. They would have foals! And they were blessed by Hera herself! All thanks to Mazhar! "We'll remember you forever, Mazhar! And send our thanks to Hera, too!"

She bounced, leaping forward to press her cheek against the hippoi chest in thanks, "I have to go tell Spice Burn now! Goodbye!"

And with that the little pink mikroi took off.

Mazhar sighed in relief. He hadn't wanted to admit that he'd never done this either.