Strangely enough, she had not been here before.

What was strange further was that she hadn't been aware of this creek's location. It seemed to magically open itself up to her when the time was right. How wonderful if that was truly what happened here. To realize the land of Novus had a mind of it's own... fascinating and beautiful all at once. The maiden wandered the creek bed without a care, without even realizing this was a private space.

Reserved for lovers.

She didn't see any. Perhaps if she did, she would realize. Maybe she'd blush and run off. Maybe she'd coo "how sweet" and leave as quietly as possible. But no, Novus seemed to lack a distinctive thing lately; romance. New life. Anything good in it. Of course there was good in Novus but... for a hopeless romantic like Willoughby she felt the world needed more love.

True love, love that could withstand time. Love that could weather any storm. She wanted that sort of thing one day. Unaware of the creek's intentions, she moved slowly through the foliage. Her wings kept close to her sides in case she wanted them to tangle. Ahead of her, she spotted movement... but who was it? "Hello?" she calls softly.

"Speaking."

Unlike Galileo, she hadn't thought much of anything of late. Her dreams were not plagued and she continued to wander without a care. Yes, the fleeting meetings were on her mind. No one in particular though. She thought it best to not get her hopes up, just in case she would never see them again.

Perhaps it would be unkind to say that out loud though. Especially if she knew that Galileo had been thinking of her. Willoughby felt she would be kinder to that realization. But ah... she was not a bright bulb. Not where it counted. Her dreams were as fleeting as the faces, no real epiphanies. It was like everywhere else she had been.

And everywhere she would continue to go.

But seeing the man before her now, once again, brought a warm smile to her lips. She slowed her pace, standing in front of him. Not close, not yet. "Oh!" she is quiet, the exclamation polite but she is delighted to see the face again "hello, Galileo!"

She made to go closer, to bump her nose against his shoulder. He had told her not to be a stranger, so she naturally assumed he wanted to be friends. But his hesitation and awkwardness... She could feel them roll off in waves. Puzzled, the maiden slowed and stared openly. Her confusion only deepened when he spoke of this place.

Furrowing her brow, she glanced around them. Nothing but seclusion, peace and quiet. "N-No...?" she was at a loss for his reaction "should I... know?" she queries, glancing back at the man "I thought I had seen most of Ruris, but this place suddenly appeared to me."

"Speaking."

"Lovers?" she echoes, slow realization dawning on her features. Willoughby flustered, glancing this way and that, expecting to magically see someone or some equines here. Anyone other than the pair of them. "oh" she says it simply at first before heat seeks her cheeks "oh, my." She slowly backs away, her feathers ruffling.

Galileo chuckles, twisting away from her to drink at the creek. Willoughby isn't sure what to make of the situation. She is not squeamish when talk rolls to romance, but she has not exactly rolled in the hay so... haphazardly. There was a whole location for lovers to come do their, ah, business? What else was Novus hiding from her?

And why did the creek reveal itself to her now, of all times?

She had strolled through Ruris casually before. Never did she come in this direction. Perhaps the gods did not wish her to come. Perhaps they hid it from her view. So, again, why now? She glances at Galileo as he admits he strolled here too without thinking. Her pale cheeks heat up again, and she glances away. He calls it a mistake.

She is not sure.

Nothing is ever a mistake to the maiden. "W-Well" she tries to smooth her feathers "Novus seems to be lacking in that, um, department" the vacancy of this region alone "if we are the only ones here" she also attempts to joke, but it falls flat to her ears. "perhaps there is a grand event going on elsewhere."

Politics, events, festivals... Even war - it sounded much more thought-out than strolling into Amare Creek. Alone. She was just glad that Galileo did not think her to be the type of woman to require a stranger for a partner. "I... am glad it was you" Willoughby states softly "t-that found me here, of course."

"Speaking."

Heat brushed her pale cheeks. She needn't say to Galileo that she was new to these lands again, and therefore the creek's true meaning was beyond her until now. No, there was no need to patronize him with words. He seemed to be in a much better mood, so why ruin it? He repeats his opinion about the courts and royals, of their galas and events.

She would have liked to laugh. But any effort would make it forced and awkward. Truly, there was no greater joy in life than love and seeing others in love. But walking in on it when it was supposed to be private was another matter. Willoughby stared in near shock as the stallion proclaimed he would much rather be here.

With her.

Pretty she is called. But more than that, he calls her a woman. "You speak ill of such events" she regains her composure, almost shyly as she glances away "but I - I have never gone to one" her lashes fluttered downward as she dared speak it "I would not have minded the participation, but..." I have no one to go with.

She goes on as quickly, as quickly as he had throwing the words to her and continuing. "Well, it would be awful dull. Not finding you among the crowd."

"Speaking."

"I doubt that very much" Willoughby goes on at his insistence she'd be better off without him at a gala. She huffs gently, amused as she closes her eyes. A nod was given, confirming the issue with herself. For now, she brushes aside his want of getting to know her to really seal the point across. "I am here with you now, yes? An event would not be any different. I'd still be with you, just in a different setting."

She chuckles. "If I am to be around fake equines, I'd much rather be with equines that aren't. Surround myself with the good ones" she pauses, slipping her pale eyes open and lowering her head. Her ears pin against skull as she takes a step forward. Just a little one. "and you are one of the good ones, I can tell." Willoughby states with certainty.

But before it could really sink in, or allow Galileo to respond, she is zipping away again. "As for my past" the maiden states "I am dreadfully boring. I was kept in seclusion by my parents, who fled a violent lifestyle. We wandered aimlessly when things got tough, so I never learned how scary the world really is." She frowned almost sadly at him.

"I've been to other places besides Novus, yet never learned their names. So I named them myself, in my head. I also imagined I had friends there, that I left behind..."

"Speaking."