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Description
Featuring Ophelia andHaldor
Summer, Year 761 of the New Age
Silverthorne, The Silver Vale

Haldor
Sighing to himself in contentment, Haldor rolls onto his side and closes his eyes. Finally finished with his required training for the day, he’s allowing himself some time to relax in the soft grasses. His muscles ache in a good way, and he rather surprises himself with the sense of accomplishment he garnered after a workout well executed.

In the distance, he can hear the calls and squeals of the other herd young, as they play their games under the watchful eyes of their parents. Haldor, as always, is not tempted to join in their games, preferring instead to keep himself apart. His age-mates seem as confused by him as he is by them, and he just wants to enjoy himself instead of subjecting himself to the awkward encounters that would undoubtedly ensue.

He knows that, among that cluster of parents, Stella will be keeping an eye on him. She takes her responsibility of watching over Haldor very seriously, and Hale knows it’s not only because he is the son of the king - Stella loves him for who he is, and he in his own way loves her. He wouldn’t be alive if it hadn’t been for the doe, and he is very grateful, but that is not all that binds him to her. She teaches him, she cares for him, she puts up with his endless barrage of questions with a smile. She even gives him affection, despite his token protests. Stella is his mother, in all but blood.

Ophelia
Leaping and bounding. Leaping and bounding. Thats all this little newborn knew. Its been a month since her birth and the unforgettable moment with the strange four-legged, brown creature her mother fought with, its been pretty exciting. The cheery fawn zoomed back and forth and side to side and then around in circles! Boy, did this filly have the energy.

Her creamy mother rested from afar under the shade of a few acacia trees, the summers heat still getting to her. Avrae had been watching her daughter all afternoon, her rambunctious fawn was a handful but it did her heart good to see her first born fawn happy as can be. As she watched Ophelia run and joyfully play she called out to her. Ophelia stopped and turned, all the filly could hear were muffled sounds, “Ophelia...” something, something,”...stay close…” she understood those few words and she nodded reassuringly and suddenly did the opposite. She watches intently as her mother slowly drifts to sleep, and the second those heavy eyes closed the fawn bolted running further and further away.

Haldor
His peaceful rest is interrupted by loud squeeing noises, as well as the sound of something zooming through the grass nearby. Mildly curious, Haldor lifts his head to see over the stalks of the grass, peering around until he spots the source of the racket.

A tiny filly, probably the youngest one he’s yet seen, tearing through the grass near his little hollow. She’s a pretty little thing, a pale yellowish color with spots all over her sides. He would be much more appreciative if she quieted down, but Haldor knows how useless it is to request such action from the very young.

Frowning slightly, he lowers his head back to the soft grass and resolves to ignore the noise. The hint of a frown tickles between his eyebrows, as a particularly boisterous cry fills the air. Perhaps ignoring is easier said than done.

Ophelia
More laughter flowed from her mouth as she bounded further and further away until she made a sharp U turn. She didn’t know where her hooves would carry her. Just the feeling of running wherever she wished was just a dream. Her boisterous bleats moved further towards her victim who rest up ahead.

The fawn came to a sudden stop, seemed like she was out of energy already. But she was far from tired. Her eyes had just set on something shiny. As she moved her snout closer a blackish brown pebble that scurried across the plains she sniffed it. The pebble stopped and opened up its wings, they fluttered fast as it hoisted the object up into the air. It let out a buzzing sound and Ophelia could hardly make out what it was before her, but her head followed the pebbles movement until it forced itself forward. Ophelia laughed; her thin, long tail cutting fast through the air and she followed it. Her movements were radical: spinning, walking, running and so on she just couldn’t take her eyes off it.

Continuing on her path of curiosity with the flying rock she saw off the corner of her eye something sleeping. She drew her attention away, just like that, to look at the resting figure. She moved towards it. A big smile placed square on her face. It looked like a bigger “her”. She brought her nose to his and a sniffed it.

“Hee,hee.” the little filly let out a small giggle, then seemingly out of nowhere, a full out burst of laughter! Her laugh was just loud enough to wake the poor palomino up.

Haldor
He could hear the little filly moving closer, but resolutely ignored her. Perhaps if he pretended he was asleep, she would move on, bored. An audible sniff near his nose, and Haldor has to hold in the very real urge to twitch. It is more difficult than he suspected it would be.

Then the tiny fawn begins giggling, and then right out laughing. He has to admit, it’s a pleasant noise, though he’s not quite sure why she’s doing it. Cracking his eyelids open, Haldor watches her as she laughs, the tiniest of smiles appearing on his muzzle. And he considers, for several moments, that maybe this fawn will not be as difficult to deal with - despite her age - as he initially surmised.

Deciding to give interaction a try, he slowly lifts his head so as not to startle her. Watching her with ever-curious eyes, Haldor blinks slowly at the little filly.

“Hello,” he murmurs, an ear flicking back. He normally doesn’t know how to interact very well with his peers, but perhaps this will be a different type of occasion.

Ophelia
She gave a few playful bounds as she watched the other lift his head. His movement felt like a sign that he wanted to play but when he spoke she stopped dead in her tracks. She tilted her head to one side, ears facing forwards and a face with the expression of wonder on it. She replayed the words in her mind, trying to think what they could possibly mean. But then her mind gets the sudden reminder of how her mother used to great other, tall “hers”.

The golden filly smiled again and tried to repeat the words, “Ha…” she said,
woo…” she let out a frustrated grunt and tried again and again still getting the same results. But then on the tip of her tongue she spoke the words, “Ha...woo. Hawoo.” she gave out a playful cry and said it again. “Hawoo! hee hee.”

She stood up on her hinds legs and let out a bleat of joy, “Hawoo! Hawoo! Hawoo!” she bounded and leapt around, her little legs hardly ever stopping from their current motion. As she calmed down she gave him an innocent look and brought her nose back to his.

“Ophelia.” she said, “Me Ophelia!” Hearing her name over and over again by her mother was easy for the filly to practice and get used to speaking her own name. The filly looked intently into the colts eyes, wait for him to address himself.

“Wha you name?” she asked.

Haldor
He watches with intense curiosity as she struggles to get out a word, fascinated by the process. Haldor had never struggled with his words, but Stella had told him it was common for young fawnlings to have to exert a lot of effort to be successful. It is immensely satisfying to watch the filly in the act of learning a new word.

And then she was bouncing around him once again, repeating her rendition of “hello” over and over again - and Haldor has to duck his head down to hide the very obvious smile that appears on his muzzle. It would not do for anyone to notice such an obvious failing in his control over his emotions.

Two tiny dark eyes, that seem huge in comparison with the rest of her, stare into his, and he can feel her warm milk-scented breath as she proudly gives him her name. She really is the most adorable thing...not that Haldor would ever admit to thinking that word about anyone, or anything. Secretly, he decides he likes this little filly.

“Hale,” he murmurs, blinking back at those dark eyes. He believes, after observing her difficulty with “hello” that Hale should be easier for Ophelia to say than his full name. Very few people are allowed to call him by any sort of nickname, but in her case he’ll make an exception. “I am Hale.”

Ophelia
“Hale?” she gave a gentle smile, “Pwetty name!” the filly let out a squeally laugh as she continued her chant, repeating his name. “Pwetty name Hale! Pwetty name Hale.”

Continuing her playful banter and bounds she finally settled down. She spoke something that made her giggle with joy, “Ophelia and Hale friends?” and moved closer to him again and laid down in front of him, getting her wet brown nose awfully close to his muzzle, “Can we friends? Please?”

Her tone was a desperate one, nearly as desperate as the earth when it longs for water during the dry season. She rolled over onto her side, her tail lashing fast across the dry, dusty earth. “Please, please, please!”

Haldor
This little one has so much energy, it amazes Haldor. He can finally understand how he wore his uncle out, that night so long ago when Ruibh had babysitting duty. It appears as if this little filly will never stop moving - even when she’s lying down, she’s constantly mobile.

His head tilts to the side as she moves into paroxysms of desperation, watching her little tail as it beats against the earth. No one has ever wanted to be Haldor’s friend this badly before. Sure, Taszia was his friend - but that just sort of happened, neither of them truly knew the moment it occurred. There were a few others he would consider as more than acquaintances, but none that wanted his friendship and his company this badly.

He’s left at a loss for words, his ears swiveled towards her in surprise. But he recovers himself from his momentary lapse, reaching forward to nuzzle the baby fuzz on her neck that will eventually become a mane.

“Ophelia and Hale friends,” he replies, unable to stop the smile that appears on his muzzle at the words.

Ophelia
The little filly let out a squeal of excitement as she returned to her hooves. She made a new friend! A friend she was now about to shower with love, her cuteness, and play. Ophelia looked at the buck intently, her stunning brown eyes burrowed into his as she prepared herself to ask the next question.

With her tail wagging fast in the air. Her limbs unable to stay in one spot. Her body language already gave away what it was she was going to say, before she even said anything. The filly let out a bleat and then spoke again. “Tag? We play tag?” The filly then moved her muzzle into his and asked another question, something one wouldn’t think a young child would even ask. But before she did, the filly laid down and rested her head on his chest fluff and curled up into him.

“Or, is Hale still tired?” her tail gave a flick. “If you still tired, Ophelia sleep here with you!” it was a demanding tone, but she didn’t know any better. But the thought of leaving her new friend, and maybe to never see him again made her slightly nervous. She just wanted to stay there with him for however long it was.

Haldor
Utterly smitten, Haldor watched the little filly in constant motion. Yes, he liked Ophelia very much, and was glad she is his friend.

He blinked at her in surprise when she asked if he was still tired, the concern unexpected. Haldor had never observed that kind of thought in one so young - even though he hasn’t had much opportunity to watch the youngest fawnlings up close. Considering her offer for a moment, Haldor bumped his nose against her side.

He has doubts about her ability to take a nap with him here. Even though he knew about youngling’s propensity for naps, Haldor believed that the energy levels she had exhibited thus far meant that a nap was still some time away. And though he had just gone through some drills, he had intentionally not pushed himself too far - and he doubts the little filly can work him much farther.

“We will play tag,” he told her, before getting to his feet. Haldor is familiar with the rules for the game, even if he has never played it before. It should not be too draining, and today no one who knows him is in the valley - there will be no witnesses to him playing after he has insisted for so long that he does not play.

Ophelia
She squealed with joy as soon as he said responded. She rolled right from under him and onto her feet the next. Her smile was big and the giggling never seemed to cease.

“You it! You it you it you it!” she reared up into the air, her front legs flailing all around and quickly darting to the side leaving nothing but dust in her tracks. She was trying her best to get far from him. She had it drilled into her big, imaginative mind that she was the fastest runner in all of Silverthorne and that no one could lay a hoof on her! Her pace fastened until she felt that there was a good distance from him and her. She was standing on a slope now, that was a good 20 feet from where the young colt was resting.

She stuck her tongue out in a playful manner. Then out of no where she turned around and shook her behind, her tail moving side to side, “You can’t get me!” she said with a taunting tone. She knew this gesture worked, well it worked on her mother who loved to play any game that her daughter could muster up. Which was a big reason her mother was happily sleeping most of the day. Ophelia would wake her early in the middle of the night to play, of course her mother eyes were heavy with sleep but Avrae would play with her sweet golden flower.

“Come get me pwetty Hale!” she shouted.

Haldor
He has to force his face to behave once again, as it continuously attempted to break into a smile. That simply will not do! Exerting his customary control, Haldor trotted after the little filly. She was a fast little thing, which is unsurprising considering her exuberant energy. He compared her speed to his at that age, and concluded that she is faster than he was - but she is also lighter built, which most likely contributed to the increased speed.

Picking up his pace, he started closing the gap between them - that is, until she turned and shook her little yellow behind at him. Haldor froze in surprise as a real, unexpected laugh escaped his muzzle. He was not expecting that! Quickly, Haldor glanced around to make sure no one saw him laughing - that would be even worse than being caught playing. But he assured himself that, essentially, the two fawns are alone, and he continued to chase after the little filly.

Ophelia
Laughter rang in the open sky. The filly ran in circles around the colt, doing loops and zig zag across the plains. Ophelia love this. The running. Feeling the sun beat down as well as the wind swimming through her creamy mane. This was all that she wanted.

She kept up her pace, not going to give into the young colt. “Pwetty Hale, you not fast enough!” she zigzagged again going towards the right. She runs in the direction where dense bushes and shrubs grow. She was going to hide here. The golden colt wouldn’t be able to her in there! She speed up then leapt high up and came crashing down into the bushes below. Green leaves and tiny sticks go flying from her impact.

Her head popped out, “Find me Hale! hee hee!” sher head shot fast back into the bush.

Haldor
Recovering himself and finally getting his laughter under control, Haldor chased the little filly into the dense growth. At this point, his breathing was coming a little forced, and an ear flicked back in irritation. Perhaps he should stop eating so much of his favorite plant, but it was so delicious, and Stella knew how much he enjoyed it. His adoptive mother had become adept at searching out patches of the plant, and as a result Haldor’s sides had become rounder than he preferred.

But it exemplified another reason he was grateful for little Ophelia - she had prompted him to get more exercise, instead of relaxing, which was especially useful considering the state he has allowed his body to achieve. He must lose the extra pudge if he hopes to one day join the ranks of the soldiers.

Barrelling into the patch of thicker growth, Haldor has to contain a start of surprise as Ophelia’s head pops out from somewhere within the foliage. It disappeared as quickly as it appeared, and he bounded - as fast as he could given the hindrance of plants - to her last known location, lowering his head to begin a search pattern. She would not elude him!

Ophelia

The filly digs through the patch of bushes in an attempt to escape the colt. Trying her best to keep herself quiet and silent as a mouse, she couldn’t help but pop up once in a while to laugh and get his attention.

“Hale! Over here!” she said in her squealing voice. Then popped back down. Then again and again. Here and there. No one could predict where the filly could possibly show up, with her fast paced movements and quick thinking, it was tough! But then she made a mistake.

“Oh pwetty hale-” she gasped. She had made a crucial error in her torment. For this time she was in front of him. Wrong place at the wrong time. Ophelia screamed and tried her best to escape the colt.

Haldor

It was hard to contain his smile, but Haldor exerted all the control he’d managed to gather in his few years of life, and forced his face into the neutral expression he was most comfortable with. This little filly had already gotten too many slips out of him, and would not get any more today.

She was making it as difficult as possible, with her popping up all over the place and squealing his name in happiness. Bounding from one end of the grass patch to the other, he kept as close as he could to where she appeared, hoping to discern a pattern he could formulate to predict her next location. There had to be some way for him to anticipate her movements.

When Ophelia finally appeared directly in front of him, it was not through any calculations of Haldor’s, much to his consternation, but an error on her part. The little filly was just too tricksy for him to discover her movements effectively in such a short amount of time.

Ophelia was so close when she appeared, that when she spun around her tail fluff brushed against his skin. She screamed and he could see her muscles bunching to bound away - but before she had a chance, Haldor grabbed her tail by those little bits of tail fluff, and held on tight.

Ophelia
Though there was little force being used, Ophelia was so young and had little strength. And with Haldors tight but gentle grip she couldn’t escape! She groaned and tried to wiggle free. “Nuuu!” she said. “Nu! Nuuu! Must bweak fwee!”

Then from seemingly out of nowhere the golden filly just went limp and landed flat on the dirt and shrubbery. She let her tongue hang out let out a dying breath. “pwetty hale has got me.” she eyed him from the corner. “Now I it! I chase you!” she said playfully.

Haldor
He considers for a moment as she lays in the dirt, and then decides that if Stella were in this position, she would respond with some sort of affection. Awkwardly, Haldor reaches down to nuzzle the filly softly on the head.

Straightening once again, one of his hooves stomps gently on the ground. He notices her tongue hanging out, and snorts at her theatrics. “Indeed, I have gotten you. Excellent attempt, Ophelia, but now it is my turn to be chased.”

With no more warning than that, he dashes off in a random direction - but not too fast. He is starting to get winded, for one, because of his previous exercise, and also because he doesn’t want to get too far ahead of the little filly. Locating a copse that doesn’t look too dense, he trots into the patch of trees, glancing back to make sure Ophelia is still following him before he disappears behind a trunk.

Description
Featuring Ophelia andHaldor
Summer, Year 761 of the New Age
Silverthorne, The Silver Vale

Haldor
Sighing to himself in contentment, Haldor rolls onto his side and closes his eyes. Finally finished with his required training for the day, he’s allowing himself some time to relax in the soft grasses. His muscles ache in a good way, and he rather surprises himself with the sense of accomplishment he garnered after a workout well executed.

In the distance, he can hear the calls and squeals of the other herd young, as they play their games under the watchful eyes of their parents. Haldor, as always, is not tempted to join in their games, preferring instead to keep himself apart. His age-mates seem as confused by him as he is by them, and he just wants to enjoy himself instead of subjecting himself to the awkward encounters that would undoubtedly ensue.

He knows that, among that cluster of parents, Stella will be keeping an eye on him. She takes her responsibility of watching over Haldor very seriously, and Hale knows it’s not only because he is the son of the king - Stella loves him for who he is, and he in his own way loves her. He wouldn’t be alive if it hadn’t been for the doe, and he is very grateful, but that is not all that binds him to her. She teaches him, she cares for him, she puts up with his endless barrage of questions with a smile. She even gives him affection, despite his token protests. Stella is his mother, in all but blood.

Ophelia
Leaping and bounding. Leaping and bounding. Thats all this little newborn knew. Its been a month since her birth and the unforgettable moment with the strange four-legged, brown creature her mother fought with, its been pretty exciting. The cheery fawn zoomed back and forth and side to side and then around in circles! Boy, did this filly have the energy.

Her creamy mother rested from afar under the shade of a few acacia trees, the summers heat still getting to her. Avrae had been watching her daughter all afternoon, her rambunctious fawn was a handful but it did her heart good to see her first born fawn happy as can be. As she watched Ophelia run and joyfully play she called out to her. Ophelia stopped and turned, all the filly could hear were muffled sounds, “Ophelia...” something, something,”...stay close…” she understood those few words and she nodded reassuringly and suddenly did the opposite. She watches intently as her mother slowly drifts to sleep, and the second those heavy eyes closed the fawn bolted running further and further away.

Haldor
His peaceful rest is interrupted by loud squeeing noises, as well as the sound of something zooming through the grass nearby. Mildly curious, Haldor lifts his head to see over the stalks of the grass, peering around until he spots the source of the racket.

A tiny filly, probably the youngest one he’s yet seen, tearing through the grass near his little hollow. She’s a pretty little thing, a pale yellowish color with spots all over her sides. He would be much more appreciative if she quieted down, but Haldor knows how useless it is to request such action from the very young.

Frowning slightly, he lowers his head back to the soft grass and resolves to ignore the noise. The hint of a frown tickles between his eyebrows, as a particularly boisterous cry fills the air. Perhaps ignoring is easier said than done.

Ophelia
More laughter flowed from her mouth as she bounded further and further away until she made a sharp U turn. She didn’t know where her hooves would carry her. Just the feeling of running wherever she wished was just a dream. Her boisterous bleats moved further towards her victim who rest up ahead.

The fawn came to a sudden stop, seemed like she was out of energy already. But she was far from tired. Her eyes had just set on something shiny. As she moved her snout closer a blackish brown pebble that scurried across the plains she sniffed it. The pebble stopped and opened up its wings, they fluttered fast as it hoisted the object up into the air. It let out a buzzing sound and Ophelia could hardly make out what it was before her, but her head followed the pebbles movement until it forced itself forward. Ophelia laughed; her thin, long tail cutting fast through the air and she followed it. Her movements were radical: spinning, walking, running and so on she just couldn’t take her eyes off it.

Continuing on her path of curiosity with the flying rock she saw off the corner of her eye something sleeping. She drew her attention away, just like that, to look at the resting figure. She moved towards it. A big smile placed square on her face. It looked like a bigger “her”. She brought her nose to his and a sniffed it.

“Hee,hee.” the little filly let out a small giggle, then seemingly out of nowhere, a full out burst of laughter! Her laugh was just loud enough to wake the poor palomino up.

Haldor
He could hear the little filly moving closer, but resolutely ignored her. Perhaps if he pretended he was asleep, she would move on, bored. An audible sniff near his nose, and Haldor has to hold in the very real urge to twitch. It is more difficult than he suspected it would be.

Then the tiny fawn begins giggling, and then right out laughing. He has to admit, it’s a pleasant noise, though he’s not quite sure why she’s doing it. Cracking his eyelids open, Haldor watches her as she laughs, the tiniest of smiles appearing on his muzzle. And he considers, for several moments, that maybe this fawn will not be as difficult to deal with - despite her age - as he initially surmised.

Deciding to give interaction a try, he slowly lifts his head so as not to startle her. Watching her with ever-curious eyes, Haldor blinks slowly at the little filly.

“Hello,” he murmurs, an ear flicking back. He normally doesn’t know how to interact very well with his peers, but perhaps this will be a different type of occasion.

Ophelia
She gave a few playful bounds as she watched the other lift his head. His movement felt like a sign that he wanted to play but when he spoke she stopped dead in her tracks. She tilted her head to one side, ears facing forwards and a face with the expression of wonder on it. She replayed the words in her mind, trying to think what they could possibly mean. But then her mind gets the sudden reminder of how her mother used to great other, tall “hers”.

The golden filly smiled again and tried to repeat the words, “Ha…” she said,
woo…” she let out a frustrated grunt and tried again and again still getting the same results. But then on the tip of her tongue she spoke the words, “Ha...woo. Hawoo.” she gave out a playful cry and said it again. “Hawoo! hee hee.”

She stood up on her hinds legs and let out a bleat of joy, “Hawoo! Hawoo! Hawoo!” she bounded and leapt around, her little legs hardly ever stopping from their current motion. As she calmed down she gave him an innocent look and brought her nose back to his.

“Ophelia.” she said, “Me Ophelia!” Hearing her name over and over again by her mother was easy for the filly to practice and get used to speaking her own name. The filly looked intently into the colts eyes, wait for him to address himself.

“Wha you name?” she asked.

Haldor
He watches with intense curiosity as she struggles to get out a word, fascinated by the process. Haldor had never struggled with his words, but Stella had told him it was common for young fawnlings to have to exert a lot of effort to be successful. It is immensely satisfying to watch the filly in the act of learning a new word.

And then she was bouncing around him once again, repeating her rendition of “hello” over and over again - and Haldor has to duck his head down to hide the very obvious smile that appears on his muzzle. It would not do for anyone to notice such an obvious failing in his control over his emotions.

Two tiny dark eyes, that seem huge in comparison with the rest of her, stare into his, and he can feel her warm milk-scented breath as she proudly gives him her name. She really is the most adorable thing...not that Haldor would ever admit to thinking that word about anyone, or anything. Secretly, he decides he likes this little filly.

“Hale,” he murmurs, blinking back at those dark eyes. He believes, after observing her difficulty with “hello” that Hale should be easier for Ophelia to say than his full name. Very few people are allowed to call him by any sort of nickname, but in her case he’ll make an exception. “I am Hale.”

Ophelia
“Hale?” she gave a gentle smile, “Pwetty name!” the filly let out a squeally laugh as she continued her chant, repeating his name. “Pwetty name Hale! Pwetty name Hale.”

Continuing her playful banter and bounds she finally settled down. She spoke something that made her giggle with joy, “Ophelia and Hale friends?” and moved closer to him again and laid down in front of him, getting her wet brown nose awfully close to his muzzle, “Can we friends? Please?”

Her tone was a desperate one, nearly as desperate as the earth when it longs for water during the dry season. She rolled over onto her side, her tail lashing fast across the dry, dusty earth. “Please, please, please!”

Haldor
This little one has so much energy, it amazes Haldor. He can finally understand how he wore his uncle out, that night so long ago when Ruibh had babysitting duty. It appears as if this little filly will never stop moving - even when she’s lying down, she’s constantly mobile.

His head tilts to the side as she moves into paroxysms of desperation, watching her little tail as it beats against the earth. No one has ever wanted to be Haldor’s friend this badly before. Sure, Taszia was his friend - but that just sort of happened, neither of them truly knew the moment it occurred. There were a few others he would consider as more than acquaintances, but none that wanted his friendship and his company this badly.

He’s left at a loss for words, his ears swiveled towards her in surprise. But he recovers himself from his momentary lapse, reaching forward to nuzzle the baby fuzz on her neck that will eventually become a mane.

“Ophelia and Hale friends,” he replies, unable to stop the smile that appears on his muzzle at the words.

Ophelia
The little filly let out a squeal of excitement as she returned to her hooves. She made a new friend! A friend she was now about to shower with love, her cuteness, and play. Ophelia looked at the buck intently, her stunning brown eyes burrowed into his as she prepared herself to ask the next question.

With her tail wagging fast in the air. Her limbs unable to stay in one spot. Her body language already gave away what it was she was going to say, before she even said anything. The filly let out a bleat and then spoke again. “Tag? We play tag?” The filly then moved her muzzle into his and asked another question, something one wouldn’t think a young child would even ask. But before she did, the filly laid down and rested her head on his chest fluff and curled up into him.

“Or, is Hale still tired?” her tail gave a flick. “If you still tired, Ophelia sleep here with you!” it was a demanding tone, but she didn’t know any better. But the thought of leaving her new friend, and maybe to never see him again made her slightly nervous. She just wanted to stay there with him for however long it was.

Haldor
Utterly smitten, Haldor watched the little filly in constant motion. Yes, he liked Ophelia very much, and was glad she is his friend.

He blinked at her in surprise when she asked if he was still tired, the concern unexpected. Haldor had never observed that kind of thought in one so young - even though he hasn’t had much opportunity to watch the youngest fawnlings up close. Considering her offer for a moment, Haldor bumped his nose against her side.

He has doubts about her ability to take a nap with him here. Even though he knew about youngling’s propensity for naps, Haldor believed that the energy levels she had exhibited thus far meant that a nap was still some time away. And though he had just gone through some drills, he had intentionally not pushed himself too far - and he doubts the little filly can work him much farther.

“We will play tag,” he told her, before getting to his feet. Haldor is familiar with the rules for the game, even if he has never played it before. It should not be too draining, and today no one who knows him is in the valley - there will be no witnesses to him playing after he has insisted for so long that he does not play.

Ophelia
She squealed with joy as soon as he said responded. She rolled right from under him and onto her feet the next. Her smile was big and the giggling never seemed to cease.

“You it! You it you it you it!” she reared up into the air, her front legs flailing all around and quickly darting to the side leaving nothing but dust in her tracks. She was trying her best to get far from him. She had it drilled into her big, imaginative mind that she was the fastest runner in all of Silverthorne and that no one could lay a hoof on her! Her pace fastened until she felt that there was a good distance from him and her. She was standing on a slope now, that was a good 20 feet from where the young colt was resting.

She stuck her tongue out in a playful manner. Then out of no where she turned around and shook her behind, her tail moving side to side, “You can’t get me!” she said with a taunting tone. She knew this gesture worked, well it worked on her mother who loved to play any game that her daughter could muster up. Which was a big reason her mother was happily sleeping most of the day. Ophelia would wake her early in the middle of the night to play, of course her mother eyes were heavy with sleep but Avrae would play with her sweet golden flower.

“Come get me pwetty Hale!” she shouted.

Haldor
He has to force his face to behave once again, as it continuously attempted to break into a smile. That simply will not do! Exerting his customary control, Haldor trotted after the little filly. She was a fast little thing, which is unsurprising considering her exuberant energy. He compared her speed to his at that age, and concluded that she is faster than he was - but she is also lighter built, which most likely contributed to the increased speed.

Picking up his pace, he started closing the gap between them - that is, until she turned and shook her little yellow behind at him. Haldor froze in surprise as a real, unexpected laugh escaped his muzzle. He was not expecting that! Quickly, Haldor glanced around to make sure no one saw him laughing - that would be even worse than being caught playing. But he assured himself that, essentially, the two fawns are alone, and he continued to chase after the little filly.

Ophelia
Laughter rang in the open sky. The filly ran in circles around the colt, doing loops and zig zag across the plains. Ophelia love this. The running. Feeling the sun beat down as well as the wind swimming through her creamy mane. This was all that she wanted.

She kept up her pace, not going to give into the young colt. “Pwetty Hale, you not fast enough!” she zigzagged again going towards the right. She runs in the direction where dense bushes and shrubs grow. She was going to hide here. The golden colt wouldn’t be able to her in there! She speed up then leapt high up and came crashing down into the bushes below. Green leaves and tiny sticks go flying from her impact.

Her head popped out, “Find me Hale! hee hee!” sher head shot fast back into the bush.

Haldor
Recovering himself and finally getting his laughter under control, Haldor chased the little filly into the dense growth. At this point, his breathing was coming a little forced, and an ear flicked back in irritation. Perhaps he should stop eating so much of his favorite plant, but it was so delicious, and Stella knew how much he enjoyed it. His adoptive mother had become adept at searching out patches of the plant, and as a result Haldor’s sides had become rounder than he preferred.

But it exemplified another reason he was grateful for little Ophelia - she had prompted him to get more exercise, instead of relaxing, which was especially useful considering the state he has allowed his body to achieve. He must lose the extra pudge if he hopes to one day join the ranks of the soldiers.

Barrelling into the patch of thicker growth, Haldor has to contain a start of surprise as Ophelia’s head pops out from somewhere within the foliage. It disappeared as quickly as it appeared, and he bounded - as fast as he could given the hindrance of plants - to her last known location, lowering his head to begin a search pattern. She would not elude him!

Ophelia

The filly digs through the patch of bushes in an attempt to escape the colt. Trying her best to keep herself quiet and silent as a mouse, she couldn’t help but pop up once in a while to laugh and get his attention.

“Hale! Over here!” she said in her squealing voice. Then popped back down. Then again and again. Here and there. No one could predict where the filly could possibly show up, with her fast paced movements and quick thinking, it was tough! But then she made a mistake.

“Oh pwetty hale-” she gasped. She had made a crucial error in her torment. For this time she was in front of him. Wrong place at the wrong time. Ophelia screamed and tried her best to escape the colt.

Haldor

It was hard to contain his smile, but Haldor exerted all the control he’d managed to gather in his few years of life, and forced his face into the neutral expression he was most comfortable with. This little filly had already gotten too many slips out of him, and would not get any more today.

She was making it as difficult as possible, with her popping up all over the place and squealing his name in happiness. Bounding from one end of the grass patch to the other, he kept as close as he could to where she appeared, hoping to discern a pattern he could formulate to predict her next location. There had to be some way for him to anticipate her movements.

When Ophelia finally appeared directly in front of him, it was not through any calculations of Haldor’s, much to his consternation, but an error on her part. The little filly was just too tricksy for him to discover her movements effectively in such a short amount of time.

Ophelia was so close when she appeared, that when she spun around her tail fluff brushed against his skin. She screamed and he could see her muscles bunching to bound away - but before she had a chance, Haldor grabbed her tail by those little bits of tail fluff, and held on tight.

Ophelia
Though there was little force being used, Ophelia was so young and had little strength. And with Haldors tight but gentle grip she couldn’t escape! She groaned and tried to wiggle free. “Nuuu!” she said. “Nu! Nuuu! Must bweak fwee!”

Then from seemingly out of nowhere the golden filly just went limp and landed flat on the dirt and shrubbery. She let her tongue hang out let out a dying breath. “pwetty hale has got me.” she eyed him from the corner. “Now I it! I chase you!” she said playfully.

Haldor
He considers for a moment as she lays in the dirt, and then decides that if Stella were in this position, she would respond with some sort of affection. Awkwardly, Haldor reaches down to nuzzle the filly softly on the head.

Straightening once again, one of his hooves stomps gently on the ground. He notices her tongue hanging out, and snorts at her theatrics. “Indeed, I have gotten you. Excellent attempt, Ophelia, but now it is my turn to be chased.”

With no more warning than that, he dashes off in a random direction - but not too fast. He is starting to get winded, for one, because of his previous exercise, and also because he doesn’t want to get too far ahead of the little filly. Locating a copse that doesn’t look too dense, he trots into the patch of trees, glancing back to make sure Ophelia is still following him before he disappears behind a trunk.