"I don't get it," Abel sighed, "why doesn't your pegasus like me? Aren't I always nice to her?" He picked himself up out of the hay pile the winged horse had just knocked him into, and Est smiled as she began to help him brush the hay from his clothes.
"You're very nice! You're sweeter than the sugar cubes you give her, even!" she reassured him, taking a seat on a stack of barrels as she continued to work. "But she takes time to warm up to new people, she didn't even like me at first."
"How long did it take her to warm up to you?" Abel asked.
"Oh, about four months," she said, and he buried his face in his hands.
"I don't know how much more nostril-flaring and headbutting I can take," he groaned. Est rolled her eyes.
"I can't believe the mighty Black Panther is getting this upset over being pushed around by a pegasus," she chided. "I've seen you hurt way worse than falling into a pile of hay, and our enemies are much nastier!"
"Ironic, isn't it?" Abel snorted. "I know I'm being a baby about it, I'm sorry," he sighed. "I guess after seeing how much Paola's pegasus loves Kain I thought it'd be just as easy for me."
"Don't worry," Est said, dusting the last of the hay from his clothes and brushing both his cheeks with a soft kiss. "Give her time, and I'm sure sooner or later you'll be the best of friends. She's already warming up to your horse, so maybe you won't be far behind."
"I hope not," Abel laughed, helping her down from the barrels and kissing the tip of her nose.