how do you sleep? //open

"Good evening," someone said. Isolde skittered to the side, sand flying up under her feet and she slid to a stop, her head twisting to look at the equine who had spoken. She forced herself to take a breath, pulling herself back into a standing position instead of her legs spread out on the ground. Good gosh, she needed to be more aware of her surroundings. She took another breath, calming her beating heart. It was just another equine, not a wolf. It was fine, she'd be okay. "Hello." she said, standing a small distance away. Her tension was draining away and being replaced by curiosity. "You know, you might scare someone sneaking up like that." she said jokingly. Now that she knew there were no threats, she could relax. "I'm Isolde." She stated, throwing it out there before he would awkwardly ask. Her more friendly side was being pulled to the forefront with the appearance of a stranger.

// 161 words

Bon. She repeated in the back of her mind, remembering the name. "Either way though, I apologize for startling you earlier. Were you waiting for someone?" Isolde laughed softly and shook her head. "Oh, no." She replied, her face falling as she looked to the shadows, "Just a bit afraid of the dark is all." She smiled slightly, returning her attention to the stag. He was a full hand shorter than she, his smaller form being the standard for his obvious lineage. He seemed nice enough, definitely not someone you would spook at, though of course if anyone would, it would be her. She jumped slightly when the sound of a faraway wolf howling at the moon echoed into the air. It was nowhere near them, anyone could tell by how faint the sound was, but it still frightened her. She forced herself to stay calm and focus on her conversation with the stallion. "What about you? Are you afraid of anything?" she asked, the first thing that came to her mind. Was he afraid of them too?

// 178 words

He seemed to really think about her question, not really knowing how to answer it. Of course, it was an easy question for her because of her past expirences. She wasn't that afraid of many things, but the few things she was scared of, scared her to death. After fleeing the wolves when she was younger, being lost and alone with no indication of what happened to her family, she would never be the same. Yes, she still had her loving and protective side, the one that jumped at the chance to help others and easily transitioned into a motherly figure. That was still there. But when the sun set and the moon rose, when she could hear them howling and leaving their homes to terroize another family; that was when she lost all control. Her heartbeat would quicken and she would hastily find someplace that seemed safe enough. Some days, of course, were better than others, but she was always afraid.

"Everybody's afraid of something, aren't they?" Bonaparte answered her question. "One of my fears, for example, is seeing others injured. I once saw a tree struck down by lightning badly wound a mare standing underneath, and though miraculously she survived, it gave me a very bad scare." Her eyes widened at the scene that played through her mind. And she had survived? Isolde knew she would have been shaken up a bit also. She nodded in understanding, knowing that she hated seeing others hurt as well. she always had, from a very young age. "But let us not dwell on the bad; tell me, Isolde, what makes you happy?"

What made her happy? Now it was her turn to think. She loved the sun, and the sounds of water crashing down into a river and onto rocks. She liked to lay around in a field and do nothing for hours, content to just breathe and not think about anything. But what made her happy? She wasn't sure. She let out a breath, looking at the ground. "I suppose..." she pasued, her face twisting as she tried to think. "I guess.. Being a part of something?" she said, the statement coming out like a question. She really didn't know, but it was as close as she was going to get. She liked to be part of a family, to have people around her, to feel important, somehow. To know that if someone needed help with something, they would come to her first, because they knew she would try her hardest. "And.. Helping," she added, "I like to be able to help others as best as I can." she laughed, knowing it probably sounded stupid, but she did. "I was always sort of a second motherly figure, I suppose." she sighed, lifting her head and looking into the distance. She wished she could return to those days.

// 482 words

He gently bumped into her, bringing her attention back to the present and their conversation. She smiled lighty in appreciation, not wanting to think about those things. "Helping is a noble thing, to be sure. In fact, since it seems to be your gift, would you mind ever so terribly, helping me?" She tilted her head as if to say, "Oh?" as he dipped his, looking up at her through the mask of his fore hairs. She couldn't help but smile wider at the gesture, suppressing laughter. It reminded her of the foals she used to look after, though these were good memories, not tainted like most of the others. He was slightly shorter than her as it was, and that added to the effect. "You see, I'm not really familiar with the area, and I was wondering if you knew of a good place to take shelter for the night? I would be so grateful," he asked, and she couldn't contain the small laugh that came out that time. The way he pretended like it was a serious subject to be handled, as if it was of greatest importance at the moment.

Then he lifted his head, shaking his hair out of his face, reminding her that he was indeed not a little foal that needed her protection. He nudged her shoulder lightly, dancing forward, throwing an invitation over his shoulder. "But if you are not familiar with the area yourself, perhaps you would do me the favor of accompanying me on my great quest?" He laughed, obviously enjoing the little game. She laughed again, leaving a small smile on her face. "Well of course, good sir," she said, gracefully dancing forward to join him, "Though, I shall admit, I'm just as lost as you are. I do think this quest would be greatly received." She giggled, never realizing how fun it was to just, be. To play a game with someone. She had always taken the harder path and grown up rather quickly, giving the less fortunate their chance to be young. She had never had that. And it wasn't as if she was old by any means, at five, almost six years. The fun years were going to pass her by if she didn't seize them. She danced a few steps forward, turning and looking back at Bon, tossing her head to the side. "Lead the way, mighty companion," she said, smiling again. She wanted to be young again, before it was too late.

// 423 words
as you can see, her character is still kind of forming. xD
this post gave me more insight into her though ^-^
i quite like it. even if its a little short (: