Epona was musing in her cottage as she swept out the old straw littering the hard packed earthen floor. She berated herself silently feeling like a foolish colt. How could she have lost control over such an insignificant thing" She knew, but didn't want to admit it. She'd been embarrassed in front of Horam. She hated to admit it, even to herself. She liked him. "Damn fool.." She muttered, shoving the last stray bit out and into the burn heap. She went back in to fetch a burning brand from her hearth and tossed it into the pile. Flames licked hungrily over the fodder and she stared into them. She could almost imagine his face disappointed with her. And she knew he would be right. Any harsh words he would have for her she would accept, she knew. She shook herself from her reverie and moved to the back of the stable turned cottage to get a new bale of hay, carrying it inside and cutting the cords that helped it to keep its compact shape. Soon she was busy strewing new fresh smelling straw on the floor, more in the nook where she slept and carefully away from the stone hearth. How could she apologize" Would he want to even hear it' She'd really screwed up this time. What was it about him that turned her usually firm resolve to mush' Why could she not control herself" She knew but hated to admit it. To admit something like that was sheer folly. She knew there was no chance for her. She wasn't even a biped, how could it possibly work" She sighed somewhat dejectedly as she finished her work. Picking up the cut cords she tucked them away in a wooden chest. Pausing, she picked up a dusty picture and wiped the obscuring grime away to look into the frozen features of her dam. "Some filly you raised" She said bitterly out loud to the picture. "Look at me, some foolish love struck foal with no control. Wouldn't you be proud?" She knew her dam would have died of shame had she known how Epona had behaved. Downright shamefully. She wrapped the aging picture in a bit of silk she'd picked up during her travels and lovingly wrapped the photo before tucking it back into the trunk, to shut the heavy lid. "I'll have to face the music eventually I suppose." But how" What peace offering could she give" She looked around at the walls hung with weapons of every kind. He wouldn't need any of those, she knew. It seemed there was nothing for it. She went to the old oak desk near the window overlooking the glen and searched out paper and pen. She began to write, but soon found herself crumpling the paper and tossing it aside, unsatisfied. She would do this many times, before finally giving up. Her final draft had been thrown at the fire, but had missed and the wind from the open window caught it, blowing it further from the fire. She looked up as she heard a familiar chirp outside the window, to spy a small yellow bird on the branch outside. "Fasurix, why do you insist on playing the part of a silly bird?" The small creature hopped closer down the branch then fluttered to Epona's shoulder. "Because when people don't know who's listening, many things may be learned." Came his reply. "What are you writing?" She sighed. "Nothing. I couldn't get it right. It doesn't matter." Fasurix cocked his head, knowing when his friend spoke a lie. "Don't give me that. What were you really writing?" Flushing she replied. "If you must know, you nosy little bugger, go read for yourself." She hadn't realized the last paper had not been burned. The little bird moved swiftly to where the crumpled note had come to rest and uncrumpling it with beak and feet, began to read aloud. "Horam, I must apologize for my foolish behavior and lack of control...blah blah blah..Who's Horam?" She flushed and shooed him away from the note, quickly sending it to the flames with the rest where it was soon ash. "Nobody." Perhaps spoken too quickly. But Fasurix was too sly for that. "Nonsense. You like him, don't you?" She frowned. "Stay out of this, I'm begging you." "Begging" You never beg, Epona. You do like him!" He fluttered triumphantly to her shoulder. "Have you told him?" "No, I can't." "Why ever not' Is he not a hot blooded male" You're not bad lookin' you know. I'm sure he's noticed." She frowned again. "That's not my business. and I don't think he would. He's not like me. He's.." "What, dead from the neck down?" She swatted the little bird angrily, but he flew out of her reach. "Temper, temper!" "Oh!" She knew he was right. "No I don't think he's dead from the neck down..he's a biped. It wouldn't work. Besides I just..oh I don't know." "Then what?s the problem?" "You wouldn't understand." "Try me." "I acted like an ass in front of him over silly words uttered by a silly human. I lost control. How could he even respect me after that"I almost shot her!" "I see your point. After all realistically nobody ever makes mistakes, right?" The irony was not lost on her, and she knew it was foolish pride, but pride was one of the hardest things anyone could ever have to swallow. "Why don't you just say you're sorry' He might respect you more." And with those last words, he flew out the window to leave her to her thoughts.