Starbeam walks alone through the forest...

[Delta]

Cold rubbed his forehead for a moment. "How do I know she's dangerous...? ...We're uh... Old friends." He said cynically. "She'll be back though. I think you may have tapped into her soft side."

Cold looked at the blue mare for a moment. "I'm sorry for just scaring her away like that. I know I came out of nowhere but... I just don't want her to hurt anyone else."

[Starbeam]

Hearing that she might have tapped into Exodus's soft side, she thought, Cool! I can make other ponies feel guilty! But I guess I can't read minds and if I can't read minds, that means I'm still an ordinary pony.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, but did she hurt someone...or maybe even you? And how did you find us?" she asked shyly.

[Delta]

"She has hurt many... She is actually an alicorn of legands and lore by the name of Exodus. She steals the thing that is most important to you and watches you chase after her. It's like some kind of sport for her."

Cold sighed.

"Yes... She has hurt me..." But that was all he said on the subject. "How did I find you...? Well... Exodus and I have a special connection. I've known her for hundreds of years... Most of the time I can sense where she is... And when she is going to strike again." He scowled bitterly.

[Starbeam]

"Wow," Starbeam said softly, her yellow eyes scintillated like a star in the sky.

"I guess you probably want to go and continue chasing her, right?" she hesitated to ask.

She did not even wait for a reply, "Then I guess you should go now, before she strikes again."

She began to pick up her mess she had made with Exodus. A lone tear slid down her cheek, almost impatiently, she brushed it off.

[Delta]

"No..."

Cold paused for a moment, thinking.

"I would prefer to stay here, keep an eye on you. I don't want her to come back, and it can be dangerous out here in the woods at night..."

He smiled at her. He was searching for words to comfort her with but found none...

[Starbeam]

Hearing his reply, Starbeam whipped her head around and starred at him in disbelief. No one "hung out" with her, at least not voluntarily. Usually she had to beg for someone to stay with her, and normally that never worked. She was surprised that her parents never kicked her out and put up with her insa--I mean--eccentric and immature ways. No one was interested in her well-being and safety...not anymore. She was amazed that Exodus, after hearing how evil and wicked she really was, stuck around so long and never once showed any sign that she wanted to kill her.

Starbeam stared deep into Cold’s eyes, and then said with a slight smile, “All right, if that’s what you really want.”

She found herself returning to her normal, cheerful self once more as she smiled at Cold again.

[Delta]

“All right, if that’s what you really want.”

Cold nodded, and returned the smile. His spirit seemed to lighten, as he felt much more at ease with the blue mare, than the other two he had met previously. Cold usually found it very hard to trust others, but he couldn't find any reason to be cautious around Starbeam.

[Starbeam]

“All righty then!” Starbeam said happily.

She trotted towards her bag and pulled out two blankets and a couple of pillows. Spreading them out on the ground, she said, “There’s enough for each of us. I normally bring enough for two ponies, although I seldom have anyone accompany me, but it’s good to be prepared.”<br>
Then she pulled out a thermos full of hot coffee. Pouring some into a cup, she offered it to Cold, “Coffee? Don’t worry, it’s caffeine-free, so no worries about it keeping anyone up all night.”<br>

[Delta]

Cold took the cup and thanked Starbeam. Just as he began to sip it, his ears flicked around and he lifted his head.

Someone was... singing...

And it was the most beautiful song he had ever heard. His immortal eyes searched through the dark trees but he could sense whoever was weaving the music was far off...

"Do you hear the music?" Cold asked Starbeam quietly, as he tried to make out Echo's words.

[Starbeam]

"Yes, I do," Starbeam said, thoughtfully. She looked around, trying to make out where the music came from.

Suddenly, a scary thought came to her: what if the forest was haunted?

Starbeam trembled and asked, "Do you think the forest is haunted? What if they come for me next? Maybe I should get out of here!"

She began to run, but accidentally, her back legs got entangled with her front and—and—CRASH! She tripped and fell with her back above her head.

[Delta]

Cold laughed. He set his cup down and strode over to where the mare was, and he picked her up.

"No, not ghosts." He said, faint signs of a smile on his face. "Hmm... It seems to have stopped..."

[Starbeam]

Starbeam giggled slightly as she wobbled for a moment after taking quite a tumble. The blue pony's face turned to a reddish-purple when she blushed. She looked around again, thinking.

"You want to go look for it?" she asked. "I think it came from over there," she said and pointed to the direction she believed the singing was coming from.

[Delta]

Cold narrowed his eyes for a moment. "No... No I believe the singer has already been joined by another..." He looked over to Starbeam. "And we don't want to crowd the poor thing, do we?"

[Starbeam]

"All right," Starbeam said as she sat down, she sounded somewhat confused. How would he know if it was joined by something? she thought.

"So," she began, "do you like to stay up late or prefer to go to bed early?"

[Delta]

"Because I am able to sense them." Cold said, smiling. "And I have the power to read minds as well." He added, as he sat back down. "Sometimes it's nessecary to learn such things when you're... Chasing after someone..." His eyes darkened, but he seemed to become happy again after Starbeam asked him about his sleeping habits.

"I prefer to stay up late; Night is a wonderful time and I like to savour it's beauty."