After a few breaths, he'd managed to coax his heartrate down to an acceptable pace. He sighed, knowing what Jane would say if she knew he was still harboring a phobia of these "gentle giants". The thought of her gleeful ridicule of his fear brought a slight smile to his face.

But there was still the matter of the overly curious horse.

Through the haze of thought coursing through his mind came the slightly sweet scent of flowers and the fresh smell of newly cut greenery. Faustus opened his eyes just as the young woman posed him her question. He smiled easily, his eyes gliding down to his book as he mentally marked the page before setting his book aside. "I'm erm - doing alright, thank you." He responded, his voice level, but his eyes flickering to the horse.

He did his best to tamp down his panic, though it was rather hard with the animal not budging one bit. "This wouldn't happen to be yours now, would it?" he asked; a question he did not expect to come out of his mouth today.