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After a journey spanning several days long, Shaoyao Hong Xiu Qiu steps into a strange celebration grove on silent red hooves, his pale coat draped in swathes of red silk just like so many of the decorations swaying in the trees. Beneath draping sashes the white coated stallion is marked with deep red lace flourishes along his neck and foreleg, the patterns a mix of elegant sweeps and delicate floral motifs. They are a legacy of his homeland, quite far from here, the last remainder he has of kin he has not seen in far too long. With his equally bold red mane and tail swept up with combs and held in place with pins, he paints a rather accurate picture of an elegant traveler from quite a faraway place.

He looks suitably part of all the celebrations, for all that he is a stranger in this place and not yet a part of any of it, only recently arrived. These celebrations are not his, and yet at their heart they are familiar to him. Days ago he had begun to celebrate the beginning of the Spring Festival with the herd that had become his home after leaving his family behind. While he was still among his herd they had observed the new moon and honored the ancestors, making offerings to the Gods and Goddesses as well as the Tea Spirits they held in high regard. After the third of day, convinced mere offerings were not enough, Xiu Qiu had struck out on his own to do more. To find the Tea Spirits, or perhaps a wandering Goddess, in truth. To ask them for help, for protection, for safety for the herd that he had joined and held so dear.

The Broken Lotus Band is a modest herd of exceptionally gifted mares, each with her own heartache and broken parts. As their envoy, Xiu Qiu hopes to find them a safe place, a new homeland, allies or friends or family to aid them in building something. Something new and beautiful and safe. A herd or a family or just an alliance. Whatever shape it takes, he is here hoping his efforts will prove successful, that he can dispel their past bad luck, and earn them the favor of those they so revere.

Seeing a stallion all shades of autumn, Xiu Qiu steps up with an elegant bob of his head. "You are the Envoy, I trust? It is to you that I would speak in an effort to find and make an offering and appeal to the Tea Goddess?"

He was bound and determined that this Spring Festival would be the one he succeeded... This time, he would find them a home. Failure was not an option, not this time.

When the KiriCery stallion seemed to hesitate Xiu Qiu forged onward. "It's very important I speak to her, I hope you can understand."

Though it might be a little rude, the red and white stallion finds his mouth is running away with questions and requests rather than introducing himself as would likely be most proper. He can't exactly help it, the whole matter is fraught with emotion and tension and he's just doing the best he can with what he has.

"Apologies for my poor manners." Xiu Qiu murmurs with a shy dip of his head in deference. "It was not my intention to cause offense or disregard protocols. Honestly, I know that I do not know much about such things and I do not wish to waste anyone's time, but that's no excuse for a lack of introduction. I am Shaoyao Hong Xiu Qiu, most simply call me Xiu Qiu. I am here to speak on behalf of Broken Lotus, to entreat the Tea Goddess to mercy. It is the hope that she would extend her grace and protection to them, and help them find solace in this unkind world so they can rest and heal."

He shifts nervously on his hooves, flicking his tail and rocking weight to one side with a stretch of his other leg, tipping his hoof to just barely rest in the grass. His muscles tense and then slowly relax, unknotting slightly as some of the tension eases with deep breaths and sudden stillness. "It is good to meet you, Mahiz, I just hope that you can help me help them. I do not know too many places to go that would be safe for them should something from their past come hunting."

Tension surges again, rising with his worry. "I am out of my depth in these matters, and I think the waters are getting deeper."

Xiu Qiu can't help the nerves still clinging to him, and shifts restlessly as he watches the autumnal colored Cery Kirin stallion before him do the same. Well, it seems they are both nervous, both out of their depths. Granted, Mahiz seems a decent sort of fellow, not high and mighty on the power of his rank, not immune to stories of the suffering of others. Even if Xiu Qiu is going about things incorrectly, this perfect stranger seems willing to help him do things right, to help where he can.

Considering all he wants to do is help the Ladies of the herd, Xiu Qiu is grateful for it. Maybe together they can sort this out, or find them something approaching swift Sanctuary while they work on a permanent solution.

"I think we're both trying to do our best with the responsibilities we have," he offered as a sort of olive branch. "And honestly, I'd be grateful for any help that could be rendered on that matter."

Xiu Qiu feels some of the tension melting away as Mahiz offers assistance and sanctuary before even bringing up the option of an audience with the Tea Goddess or other such spirits. Honestly, he'll take all the help he can get. If the herd lands are safe before even bringing the Spirits into it, so much the better.

"They're traveling in smaller bands, moving somewhat erratically in an effort to avoid being tracked." He explains with a harried look and a bit of a helpless shrug. "No clear destination in mind outside of seeking the audience, so ideas would be appreciated. If the Tea Goddess can't or won't see us, and perhaps even if she will, they need somewhere safe to call home."

In a strange sort of way, the fact that Mahiz seemingly abruptly decided something and settles helps Xiu Qiu do the same. Part of it is the fact that the young imperial lace stallion is not confident in his post, and is so concerned at the weight of his duty. It is daunting, to bear the weight of so many lives, so much hope. To run into someone older that was clearly nervous but then decisive, calm under pressure, helps to alleviate some of his own nerves. His role still is life and death, in a way, but there is less weight to it with help. A powerful herd alliance means safety, even if it is only temporary.

"Compromise sounds like a fairly safe place to start from." Xiu Qiu concedes in a soft voice, unsure if he's being addressed directly or if the other stallion is merely thinking out loud. "Please, by all means... I would welcome any sort of strategy you might have, because I will admit I am somewhat tired of running on my own, and I am worried about the drifting groups of the ladies on their own."

He takes a moment to think over the whole situation, then draws a deep breath and gives a decisive nod. "I'll be honest, a chance to stop and rest and regroup in the shadow of the herd would be welcome. There is a place or two I can leave a message, or if you have messenger birds that I could send back along a few of the routes... or some combination thereof, that sounds like the best way to get the news out to them. Once they're together again and rested, if the herd is not the right fit or if the Goddess is not willing to take us on, then I guess we will make a new plan from there."