>>23248[(Some of the shyer animals skitter, hop, or waddle away (taking cover behind rocks, trees, or bushes), watching from a distance. Only a curious little mouse remains, watching the interaction from behind Fluttershy's hindhoof -- ready to retreat behind her tail if need be)]
*[am using brackets to explain in more detail my characters' motives -- see note at bottom for more info]
*briefly looks concernedly around at my animal friends to make sure they're ok before standing up, my mane falling over part of my face*
I glance in your direction just long enough to register your expression [to ready myself for how to proceed with the interaction. The preparation causes me to tense up ever-so-slightly. "...just act like Rainbow Dash," I think to myself].
I look down at the ground, finding a pleasant rock to look at, [making up a story in my head about what I'm doing out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by animal-friends, hoping you'll think I'm busy doing some obscure weather-related activity]. To a random, unobservant pony I would seem to be just staring at the ground.
After seeing your change in demeanor and hearing your gentle voice, however, I relax a little -- while remaining somewhat on guard, knowing how loud you can be [...and believing you are probably usually like that, I am also somewhat suspicious of your intentions, due also in part to the sudden change in demeanor - even though I do appreciate the gesture]. "...does this pony know me?" I wonder to myself.
All this rumination makes it difficult to reply (and also to notice anything different about your form, having been previously too absorbed in the blissful oneness of warm animal-friend hugs to pay any mind and only glanced at you since). After the moment has passed and I realize I haven't said anything, I pretend to be concentrating on the rock as a potential excuse. I take care, however, to not make it too, too obvious so that I will have plausible deniability in case you just think it's weird. [As you approach, I begin to regret that I let myself get so distracted by my sweet animal friends so as to have done something so bold as to have said "hi" first. "You're such a loudmouth, Fluttershy," I chastise myself in my mind.]
*[Your character might not notice some of the stuff I write, so stuff in "[]'s" can maybe also be things that happen but
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