Its not that he disliked the feeling, a warm and inviting cloak that enveloped him as she entered the cave, sadly, as comforting as her energy may feel…it was a primal reaction. Built up over hundreds of years of hatred and contempt for his race and their very existence.
He knew she meant no harm either, the way her shoulders relaxed when she moved, or how her ears remained in a forward position, displaying her curiosity. No, this mare meant only kindness, her voice like a gentle breeze when she cooed to him, trying to usher him from his corner of the cave, her eyes filled with love incarnate, flowing from her as if from a never ending fountain….She meant no harm or ill will…
and yet he remained still, unable to move, even as she took several slow and calculated steps forward, eyeing him the whole time for social cues in his body language, he did not budge.
A low sizzling sound hit Twilight’s ears as she advanced, signalling her to stop and seek the source of the sound, to her surprise it came from the changeling’s eyes, he was crying!
Crying a clear substance that was actually hissing upon contact with the air…no doubt an acid of some sort, yet damage his cheek it did not. She watched profoundly as he shivered, his fear overtaking him as he slowly crouched into a protective position…she tried to extend a hoof in kind, but he only shrank back, his eyes scrunching shut.
Twilight sighed, all she sought was friendship…but even she knew…
fear was one of the most powerful adversaries against friendship itself.