Shivering slightly against the night wind, you pull your coat more tightly around you. Doubt begins to enter your mind; certainly it was foolish to leave your warm bed. When you hear the echo of the song again though, you hurry forward, trying to follow the sound. As the melody fades again, you slow down and gaze at the at your surroundings, with the heavy stars above that show between the trees' leaves. You hear a rustling of leaves, and you quickly face the noise, hoping to find the source of the song you heard before. A bit to your surprise, a frondari comes steps from the shadows, searching you with a gentle, cautious look.  Excited to find someone who might be able to answer your questions, you introduce yourself hurriedly, and ask the first two things that come to your mind; who was singing the song, and where you are. The frondari gives you a quizzled look. "A song?" He twitches his ears back and forth as he listens, but the song does not pick up where it left off. You blush and feel slightly foolish, but a warm smile from the stallion sets you at ease again. "It is hard to tell what the echoes may bring back here...very odd, strange things sometimes. It may have been the wind through the canyon, or perhaps there was a singer here. The lovely Sycamore, or one of the other mares..." His voice trails off, and you notice a wistful smile on his face, before he turns his full attention back to you. "I can answer your second question though. You are on the lands of the Herd of the Fading Songs; I am Gazelle Escaping Raging River, the lead stallion of this herd." You give Gazelle a confused look, and he smiles politely. "I can not stay with you long, but I can lead you to a place where you can learn more. This way." He turns around, and with a quick look over his shoulder to make sure you were following him, he begins to trot in the forest. |