There was a lot to be said when observing the owl. Although she was a creature of little words and lesser expressions yet, the trick was reading the nuance of her gestures. From the tilt of her head to the unspoken words that came of her parting beaks, Delphine thought that with time, perhaps she could come to understand what passed in their silence. But of this, she was certain, whatsoever sound had just slipped past the owl's defenses, the mare was convinced that it was either laughter or a chuckle. She smiled in response, not knowing what had evoked such a reaction but delighting in its existence no less.

"No, no it's not." She purred, contented with thoughts of the onyx colt. Her gaze fastened to Willow's brisk motion, working through her feathers just as she would occasionally clean her own pelt though the gesture was altogether different when placed on an avian creature. Her head tilted to the one side and she watched unabashedly. "Yes, I do! I was there when he hatched from his gem, we've been together since. More often than not, he goes on about his business and I mine but when it comes time to rest, we always come back. Normally we reside in Eridanus or Orion." She paused and glance down, adding almost shyly, "It's been nice... Having someone by my side." Her tone dropped to a mere whisper as if admitting even this much took an exorbitant amount of courage on her part. "It's helped... With the nightmares."

(@Willow)

The owl listened once more, nodding a little. It seemed that she did not pry about the nightmares - perhaps already assuming it is related to the scar on the mare's back. Despite this, however, she still looked somewhat amused - as if the comment had simply flown right by over her head. Arguably, one could say that she did not think of it at all.

She nodded once more. "It is nice to have someone there for you, indeed," she said. "Perhaps I should visit." but it wasn't too clear who she meant to visit, as the owl glanced off down the tunnel, somewhat thoughtfully.

She barely managed to let out a soft 'excuse me' as she picked up her satchel and flew upwards to the ledge above, hiding the bag before she flew back down. "I have things to do, dear Delphine - but I will visit you and your hatch mate in Orion or Eridanus soon enough. If I can, I will bring Adeyemi."

She nodded slightly once more, head bopping almost comically up and down as she stared up at Delphine with a quiet sigh. She did not want to leave the horse so soon, and the guilt bubbled up inside her somewhat.

@Delphine

"You should." The mare affirmed with a zealous nod but her smile faded along the edges, pained by the notion of an inevitable separation. She felt it the moment the owl's gaze drifted and before the 'excuse me' so much as slipped past her beak, Delphine knew that it was time for good-bye's. "Yes, of course. It would be wonderful if the both of you could come. I'm not used to seeing you or he alone." She admitted and this time she tried to wash the melancholy from her tone, wringing inflection to the ends of her words where she felt no such joy. It seemed that even now, Delphine struggled with departures, temporal as they were. She imagined that it was something that would follow her for life, a part of her that could not be washed or tampered with because that was who she was. When she loved, she loved so fiercely that it hurt. Perhaps to some it was a burden, an affection that delved so deep but to her, it was something that could not be controlled.

Gradually, Delphine unfolded her legs from beneath her, rising to a stand so that she herself could make her departure. She dipped her head and nuzzled the owl, this time firmly and fondly. "May we meet again soon, I am so glad to have seen you again and it brings me much joy to know that you are well." With one final nudge, she straightened and turned her attention toward Eridanus. "I hope you find Adeyemi." Then she smiled, "Until next time, my friend." Turning on her heels, Delphine made toward the jungle of earth and moss, finding consolation in the notion that she was leaving a dear friend for home rather than nothingness. And it helped, the gentle reprieve that stole her away into the darkness.

exit delphine!

( @Willow )

Willow felt a little bad for leaving so soon. She shivered a little, watching the mare stand up - she was rather startled by now tall she was now - much taller than the owl who only stood at about two feet tall. What scared her more was that they were both still young - the horse would grow even more.

"I will see you soon, dear," she said. "Do not forget you are not ever truely alone."

What may have been comforting for the horse, her own words scared her. She couldn't imagine ever having privacy or a moment to herself, to bask in silence and to breathe. But it didn't matter, for now. She stretched up to preen Delphine's mane. "Stay safe. You may find me here if you ever need me," she nodded.

Taking to the air to head down the tunnel and first into Orion, the owl thought of her hatch mate with almost a feeling of dread. She hoped she'd find him soon, too and was afraid what would happen if she did not - Adeyemi always had a knack for managing to do something stupid involving fire. After all, when he first hatched, he managed to set himself on fire.

(exit willow)