The thought of a grown stallion still adhering to his mother's bidding just did not seem natural to the pangare king. Rhaego reveled in the freedom of making his own choices and for his own reasons from a very young age and he simply could not imagine anything else, certainly not with the mother that he had known. Though the silver-haired male's words were spoken calmly and simply, the infliction behind them served only to bristle the draft stallion's fur the wrong way. 'Don't mock me...' The three words were spoken like a piece of flint striking steel, igniting a dangerous light in the stallion's dark gaze. Heat burned in his veins and time-hardened muscles tensed beneath his red-brown coat, rolling as he shifted a slow and purposeful step nearer to the younger brute. A year or so prior may have seen Rhaego leaping into a literal fit of rage that this... colt... dared to think he could command what he could and couldn't do, but the mealy king had learned a measure of restraint and composure in that time. Anger and indignation still seethed about the edges of his control, yet the powerful stallion held it in check - there was something to be said for choosing one's battles and when they were worth his while. However, it went against everything that was Rhaego to let the matter drop without making his view crystal clear.

"A stranger does not command me how to think or act... especially not a - " He paused here, low rumbling voice seething with distaste, as he spat out the next word with forceful emphasis. "- 'stallion' - such as yourself." The silver dun was in the process of turning to leave and Rhaego huffed as if in 'good riddance'. "Wise. Leave while you are able." The dismissive tone marked Rhaego's readiness to return to his mare's but he refused to look away until he was sure Verico was truly gone, and even then he held a level stare in the last spot he saw him for a long while afterwards.

It was Kitty's detached voice which finally prompted the burly stallion to relax his guard for a moment and turn to face her. A contemplative look furrowed his expression as he gazed at her silently for a moment, an array of thoughts flickering through his mind. "She is here." He mirrored her deadpan demeanor, leathery lips pursing just slightly as he chose his words. "Go see for yourself." The stallion spun around fully to face her and gestured forward with his heavy skull, intending to ensure the mare did just that.