A moderate breeze swept through the rich spring grasses which cloaked rolling hillsides, sending the succulent blades to waving and dancing in the invisible currents. The sky was a brilliant clear blue with barely a few puffy white clouds to dot the vast expanse, only distant reminders of the light thunderstorm that had passed through only a few hours before. A deep inhale of the still damp air told everything the mealy dun king everything that he needed to know about his territory in that moment with the air shifting and changing in various directions, bringing all the scents to him atop one of the many ridges that offered a suitable view of much of his home. Of the assortment of aromas wafting about him, there were none that were not something or someone that he was already aware of within the borders. The deep satisfaction of such knowledge however, only went so far. Though there was an undeniable impression that all was well and on the right track, Rhaego could not be content with it.

There was not a lot for him to be unhappy about, for his harem was secure within his home, he had not so long ago acquired a beta whom he seemed to like well enough thus far, and a few new foals of his blood already on the way. Many stallions would be more than content with such a situation, but Rhaego was not one of them. There would always be something more to strive for, to want, and to need so long as he felt there was more. And indeed today was no exception, except this was something that he already had and that had been taken away from him.

Rhaego had only recently seen fleeting glimpses of the object of his attention and caught hints of the sweet aroma that belonged to her - just enough to satisfy him that she was still there, somewhere. As the season intensified and the warmer weather made the mares receptive, the stallion had half-expected the same visit from the Mustang dryad that he'd received the past two years. Yet each of his other mares had already sought him out, both of which he was sure would be siring his next foals, and still he had yet to see Aileen. A stubborn and haughty pride surged through his veins whenever he thought of her - and for a time, he resisted the desire to seek her out - somehow unsure of seeing her again after the words that had been spoken that day. He vastly disliked the fact that Aileen's seething anger had stung him like it did; he hated feeling any type of weakness that he did not know how to react to. It was not like the battles that he was so familiar with. No, this was a whole new battlefield that he had to learn. Eventually, arrogance won out in the king's inner battle with himself. He wanted Aileen... and he was not about to let a few uncertain feelings hold him back. He would have her again.

With his mind made up and determination unshakably in place, the broad-bodied stallion set off down the slope in a ground covering canter towards the deep forest where he knew the mare was likely to be. The breeze stirred again as he reached the trees, bringing with it a cornucopia of earthy aromas - damp rain-soaked soil, budding foliage, and the scent trails of various herd members as they passed through the area. Braking and slowing to a light trot and then a purposeful walk, Rhaego paused only just long enough to test the scents at the forest's edge before diving into the brush and beginning his search - whether he found her in one of her prefered hideaways or by simply following a fresh scent trail, only time would tell... but find her he would.