Asfaloth was roused from his sleep by a low moaning from his newest neighbor. Having no gate on his spacious stall, he pranced out easily, following the sound to the end of the row. There lay a creature vaguely familiar to him. Small and brown, it looked like a foal, save for the clearly developed muscles of his shoulders and flanks, and the intelligence burning in his brown gaze. Pony, the horse's mind remembered. Seeing the pony shiver, Asfaloth sniffed the air, realizing it had gotten cooler. The elf bred horses barely noticed, but the pony was a creature of man, and still susceptible to it.
Walking carefully, noticing the paste and bandages on the small animal, Asfaloth joined him in his stall. Folding his legs, he sat, then lay behind the pony, offering his warmth. Brown eyes met blue, and a world of feeling was exchanged. In that moment, Asfaloth knew this pony was like him, except he had no Rider. Sniffing, Asfaloth recognized a lingering smell on the pony. Healer, he identified it. Elf-mare's sire. He gave the pony a questioning nudge, and brown eyes gazed back, holding the answer.
With a soft whinny, Asfaloth gently moved his head over the pony's, coaxing him to rest his head. The pony complied, leaning his head and body against Asfaloth's bulk and warmth. The pony gave a small whuffle as the horse lay his head gently over the pony's neck, offering more of his warmth. The pony rested easily, and Asfaloth lifted his head, gazing longingly at the structure where Rider dwelled. With that could only be a sigh, he settled his head back on the pony's neck, falling into an uneasy sleep.
