Ether tossed her head uneasily, dark blue eyes large and soft with worry as she stepped closer to the dark stag despite her hesitation. Standing shoulder to shoulder with him, the young fae dipped her head, sniffing the wolf curiously.
The metallic scent of blood permeated the air, winding macabre threads of black and red around the duo, creeping into their nostrils and sending their hearts pounding with an instinctive, primal fear.
Ashwin's tone, when he spoke, was soft and sad. The young mare closed her eyes, berating herself for her soft heart as she tentatively agreed to the stallion's request, ignoring the use of an unknown name in place of hers.
"Of course," she murmured, gently rolling the wolf over and securely onto Ashwin's broad back, trying not to hurt her too much. Even though the wolf was gone from the ground, crimson still stained the patch of sand that she had lain on.
Ether could feel her eyes fill with unshed tears.
"Who would ever do such a thing?" she whispered, voice breaking as she stared numbly at the young wolf.
For the first time, her mind was wholly in the present, and she was determined for it to remain there. Even though she coudl feel the dreams and fantasies tugging and whispering seductively at the back of her head, she resolutely ignored them, intent on helping the duo.
"Let's go," she murmured, touching her red-streaked muzzle to Ashwin's shoulder sympathetically, before turning and galloping off to the oasis she could see not too far from there.