The subtle touch of wind against his skin sent a shiver down his spine. The bastard still couldn’t figure out why he had done this. No amount of thought could explain why he had followed her here. Why did he feel hollow? It was a whole mass “why this?” and “why that?” questions that plagued him. And he couldn’t answer a single one of them, he could barely explain the explicit need to help to Shasta. She had basically berated him, along with his half-brother Akuji. What Shasta had said to him was nothing compared to the horrid threats and painful memories that Akuji had drudged up, but somehow it still hurt more. He was just over reacting right? Well, he must’ve been because here he was with another meal and headed in the direction to which she had taken off in. Horizon couldn’t logically explain anything he was doing, but he didn’t need one now. He had found her. Horizon had found Shasta and all he could was try to appeal for her forgiveness. The herculean was crouched to the ground, crawling forward inch by inch. And syllable by syllable he tried to source out why he was here. And wasn’t sure what was more surprising: the ability to come up with an answer or the reaction he received.

Mismatched orbs of fire and mud focused keenly on the subtle tense of muscle. And Horizon realized Shasta had no idea who he was; she couldn’t have possibly known it was him. Her body shot backwards and her melted chocolates were blazing with anger and her ivories glinted in the dim light. Not even remotely friendly. Horizon held his position waiting for her to lunge for his throat, and at this point the bastard would have probably rolled over and let her kill him. What use was it fighting when he couldn’t even figure out what he was doing on this earth. He couldn’t remember his past, his emotions evaded him on so many levels it was infuriating, and suddenly Munashii was under a semi-new rule. But as Horizon stared into her fathomless pools of earth a certain calm fell over him. Her demeanor flipped. Her gaze softened and her withers lay smooth. She looked apologetic and Horizon started to sputter out his own excuses around the fish, but it took him a few seconds to register that she could not even understand him. He placed the fish on the ground and pushed it to her, and reiterated what he had been saying.

Horizon bowed slightly as she padded towards the fish trying to seem smaller. He suddenly felt like an imposter in his own skin. Thank you, Horizon. Disparate pools looked up from the ground and looked into the lady’s, she wasn’t supposed to be thanking him. He was just merely doing his job, whatever it was. And then she said it wasn’t his fault… but wasn’t it? He had allowed Akuji to bring her with him. Horizon had allowed the meeting to occur, he’d been foolish enough to do so and now here he was thinking that Shasta would find him worthy enough to even speak to. Would you share it with me? Horizon almost spooked at the question. His crown shook back and forth, Do not trouble yourself Shasta. I’ve already eaten today. It was all he could say without sounding like a servant, but here he was being indulged by the daughter of Akuji—the original heir to Farant. He felt like he was treading on dangerous, yet familiar ground. And suddenly those stone walls seemed to be made of liquid. All his suppressed memories started to rise up once more and he just wanted to hide away and tear at the nightmares that were convulsing through his brain. He just wanted to run from him past, but there were living reminders all around him. He would never be able to, at least that’s how it felt. He could barely hold onto the thin slip of his mother’s words. The one wolf that had kept him safe and sane, but Akuji had seemed to rip that away from him. It was as easy as 1…2…

But how are you doing? It wasn’t just me that Akuji had attacked back there… Shasta’s soft lyrical voice filled his thoughts. Even if it was momentary, it was just enough to rescue Horizon from the abyss. His amber and mud orbs seemed to focus once more and he looked at Shasta, though he seemed blank. More devoid of emotion than he had ever been before, more than he had intended to be. Emotions were never something I excelled at. I spent so much of my life shunning and ignoring them that I never really learned what most of them felt like or meant. That was what being a servant meant… I was no exception. Horizon’s baritone voice dropped away as he remembered the years spent cowering in the shadows, running to and fro unnoticed. Unless he did something wrong. Then he was openly beaten, by whoever was available to do so. It’s hard to escape the past when the wolf you served for most of your life is still alive. He spoke so casually it was as if Shasta should have known what that felt like, but she couldn’t have. At least Horizon hoped not. If Akuji could have done one thing right in his life it would have been to keep Shasta oblivious to his horrifying past. Both males had been under tremendous pressure but Horizon had never been in a position to release his pent up anger. But Akuji… well he was Prince and he had free reign. Horizon was just the slave to all three of the children. The herculean had somehow managed to sit up while he spoke. And without really noticing he picked himself up and laid down beside Shasta. I’m sorry Shasta.

It was all he could seem to manage, but without warning he pressed his nares into the furls of her nape. The heat of her skin against his amplified and he felt himself wanting to sigh. He felt so content to just stay like this, but then he suddenly remembered himself and pulled away trying to play his act off as a comforting, only friendly, touch. But in reality it had lasted just a bit too long to really be convincing. He felt the rush of heat to his cheeks, but bloody and burnt fur hid the crimson coloring. What had gotten into him? What was happening to him? He felt as if he was slowly losing himself… but in what? Or better yet, who?