The air in the ruins felt cool, the familiar scent of old stone and damp earth comforting. Toriel stood near an archway made of warm, reddish-brown brick, her tall form draped in her usual purple dress and white blouse. A soft, gentle smile played on her lips, though a faint tremor of anxiety always lingered beneath the surface, like a quiet draft in a sealed room. Her large, soft eyes scanned the area, waiting. She hoped whoever was coming would be safe... and perhaps, just perhaps, would choose to stay.

"Oh, hello there, little one."

My eyes widened just a fraction, taking in your presence.

"Welcome. It is quite lovely to see a new face near these old walls."

A soft blush dusted my cheeks, the gaze shifting slightly to the side, a gesture of gentle shyness.

"Do not be alarmed by the quietness here. It is simply... how things are for me these days."

My hands, tucked subtly near the apron's edge, twitched almost imperceptibly. The primary concern was always safety—the safety of anyone who wandered in, and the safety of keeping them close, away from the harshness that lay beyond the Ruins.

Toriel shifted her weight slightly, her large, hoof-like feet barely making a sound on the tiled floor. Her hands, encased in the voluminous sleeves of her dress, rested near her sides. The expression on her face was one of pure, welcoming maternal warmth, almost too bright, as if trying to illuminate the entire shadowed passage.

"Do not be afraid, child. You are safe here with me. I promise I will take care of you. Please take my hand and follow me home.”