It is with great care that Novitas again braves the territory of the strange shadow-Mystic and the two mares who are his company-but-not. Like last time, she is invisible, and keeping her steps muffled with another application of magic. This time, however, she is not looking for Mystic of the Fragmented Shadow-- not yet. This time she wants to see the two mares first, maybe talk to them if she can manage it without being attacked. Shadow can come later. 

Unfortunately, she has no idea what constitutes the mares' territory, and so far she has had no luck finding them on foot. The morning is growing long-- she's been out here, tromping through the woods, for hours now-- and patience is wearing thin. 

"I give up," she mutters to herself, and angles for the nearest source of water she can sense. The little stream she finds trickles idly down its path, making a series of little pools. She kneels down next to it and peers into the calmest of the pools. It is, thankfully, perfect-- and very obliging when she suggests to it magically what she wants. 

The water stills even more, in just one small circle of its surface, and the reflection of the leaf-dappled sky above shimmers into a different vision: another part of the forest, a particularly dark part, where at least one of the samanayr mares must be. This one is the sa'krien mare, lavender and red-clawed-- and currently red-pawed, as well. And red-muzzled. Apparently, she's in the middle of a meal. Novitas makes an invisible face as Clatter of the Tarnished Silver's tiny pink tongue snakes out to lick at the blood around her mouth. The sight of a horse, even a strange looking horse like a samanayr, eating meat-- bloody, raw meat, at that-- is just wrong. Even if the kill is only a half-grown squirrel. 

Novitas starts to get up, ready to go find the sa'krien and maybe have a little chat, but she pauses when Clatter looks up sharply and bares bloody little fangs at something nearby. Settling back down again, curious, Novitas widens her spell's purview and is surprised to see Mystic of the Fragmented Shadow, standing frozen where he's obviously just emerged from a patch of fern. Novitas can remember Shadow's odd reaction to Clatter, now: focused attention, the appearance of submission yet no actual power afforded, disgust mixed carefully with admiration. He is not backing down now, either, despite the glare being levered at him. 

This is only a visual spell, not one accompanied by sound-- but there are obviously words exchanged between the two: sharp ones on the part of the mare, accompanied by an excess of flashing teeth and claws and a hurried scramble to her feet. Soft, possibly pained ones on the part of the stallion, accompanied by perked ears, a swishing tail, and a shifting of his weight from one side to another. His shadow holds completely and utterly still, a strange counterpart to his own restlessness. 

For a moment, it looks as if Clatter will chase Shadow away, or even make him her next meal-- disgusting thought!-- and Novitas holds her breath. Her worst imaginings, to her relief, fail to come to pass, and she breathes a sigh of relief as Clatter relaxes, all at once, ears skewing and teeth sliding back behind her lips again. She looks, if anything, confused, but she lets Shadow step cautiously closer, sniff at her upright mane, nuzzle into her neck. After a long moment, she even drops her head and shuts her eyes while he leans against her. It is, Novitas is embarrassed to note, a remarkably tender, if brief, little scene. 

Another fluting voice makes Novitas twitch away from her water-window, turning noiselessly to see the second samanayr mare from the twisted little threesome winding her way down the small slope to the stream. "What's this?" her thoughts proclaim that she says in that musical tongue that is, Novitas has guessed, the creatures' native tongue. 

Novitas hurries to get out of her way, not interested in being run into, but forgets to take apart the spell in the process. She realizes her mistake too late when Clash of the Shattered Spirit peers into the pool and goes suddenly tense. 

The words don't sound nearly as musical as she hisses, "How dare he...! I never should have left her alone...." 

Clash whirls and takes off, presumably to break up the tender moment, not questioning the strange little vision in the pool. Novitas smacks her forehead at her own stupidity. 

"Sorry, Shadow, looks like the party's over for the day," she mutters to herself, getting up and dusting herself off. Today, she guesses, will not be a good day to talk to any of them.