Oh spirits! Yuuki had gone and done it! Sita's mouth fell open and his eyes widened in horror as soon as the word 'horse' left the man's lips.
Long ago, when Sita had first befriended Eshe, he, too, had learned all about the unforgivable 'H' word the hard way. He, too, had been met with a fit of alarming hysterics and tears. He, too, had felt like a giant dick without knowing what, exactly, he'd done.
Aw, shit, shit, shit. He should have probably warned the guy. But then again, he hadn't known Eshe was in town and then there had been no good, private opportunity to bring it up.
Sita launched straight into damage control.
"Shh, Eshe, it's okay," he said, turning quickly to give the okapitaur a hug, rubbing what he could reach of her human back in soothing, gentle circles. "Eshe is beautiful and delicate and the daintiest, most vibrant little jungle flower ever. She has stripes the like of which men only dream of." He smiled reassuringly up at her, stretched up onto his toes so he could reach up and wipe at her tears.
"We're just ignorant city-folk, love. No one here's ever heard of or even seen an okapi, much less an Eshe, until ya blessed us with your radiance. Forgive him his gross ignorance, I'm sure he's sorry and really meant he's never met someone so completely outta his league."
He flashed Yuuki an urgent look over his shoulder, gave a subtle nod toward Eshe. Hopefully he would get the hint.
