Rising Sun Valley Acorn

The swish of his tail initially caused Cygnet to startle lightly, but she froze to avoid giving her fright away. She noticed then how her heart raced, to be standing sidelong with someone her own age- not some stiff, posturing adult. She was at last on equal ground with someone, and wouldn’t be dismissed simply because of her age. 

He gave her a name and she bristled slightly, reluctant to speak. She noted the sound of his voice, the crispness of his diction, and began to feel the weight of social anxiety trying to convince her to keep her mouth shut. 

But if she did, then he might think he was better than her- and she was having none of that. 

”Sssssssssignet,” She hissed softly. Her gaze caught his, sharp and tense. For a moment, silence whisked its way between them, and held her frozen in place. Abruptly, she dropped her front end, elbows crushing the soft, new grass beneath her as she dipped into a swift, inviting playbow.