I would honestly love you now,
But I would lovingly let you down.
Jabari's heart was beating fast in his chest as he and his sire stepped further into the Lagoon. His eyes were wide with interest and apprehension, peering through the trees and the vines as he searched their surroundings for any more warm bodies. Jabari remembered his uncle Kasabian, though the details were hazy. But he knew of him at least, he remembered seeing his buckskin frame in the Prairie once or twice when he was very young. But Jabari also knew what had happened to Kasabian. He'd died here. Shamwari didn't like to talk about it much, or about the time he spent here himself. Those were the kinds of conversations he seemed to reserve for Ruger, and only Ruger.
Jabari's blue eyes catches Shamwari as they wait, but his father doesn't make a sound. Instead, Shamwari's broad body is planted firmly in place, standing squarely with his head held high above his withers. Shamwari's nostrils are wide as he continues to test the humid air, and his eyes roll in their sockets as he too scans the landscape around them. When another stallion's call breaks through the woods, Jabari jumps in place. All four feet leave the ground as he lurches forward, but he settles himself quickly, embarrassed by his reaction. Shamwari on the other hand stands as stoic as ever. The chestnut stallion doesn't immediately crane his neck in the direction the call came. Instead he waits a few seconds, then does so slowly and deliberately. He casts his son as stern glare - one that told him to be on guard.
Cullen slithers out from the brush to greet them. Jabari recognizes the stallion's musk right away and his eyes narrow into tight slits. This is the stallion who came for Petal. This stallion was about to be his leader - his boss. It was a tough pill to swallow, especially now, as he looked the pale stud directly in the eye.
"Cullen." Shamwari says solemnly, without so much of a flinch. "It seems the Lagoon has seen better days." The chestnut stallion quips, his gaze wandering to the desolate surroundings for just a second. Jabari watches with interest, his gaze flicking to his father and then Cullen. The only dent Cullen makes in Shamwari's stony exterior is when he addresses him as "king". The title never sat well with him, and Shamwari's ear lobes flick back against his poll momentarily.
"I'm here to help." Shamwari adds, with a small smirk tugging at the edges of his whiskered lips. Neither Jabari nor Shamwari knew much about Cullen, except for his lineage which tied him to the Lagoon. Neither knew how much Cullen knew about Shamwari's Lagoon connections, but if he knew Ruger, he must surely know some about Shamwari's years here, or at least about his mad, former Lagoon Boss brother. But it didn't much matter now. "Jabari is here to join your ranks. For a short while, at least. I think two seasons with your bachelors may be beneficial to you. He's had some spar training from Ruger and another young stallion in our herd. And he's long held responsibilities in our herd. I think you'd find him useful."
Shamwari studies the Lagoon Boss now, shifting his weight evenly over all four hooves.
"But this gift is not for free." He adds, bobbing his head to rid his long, red forelock from his eyes. "As long as Jabari is here, I expect there to be a temporary peace agreement in place with Luthien. Both with the Prairie and the Forest. If in two seasons you find you'd like him to stay around longer, we can have that conversation."
J A B A R I Stallion | Brienne x Shamwari | Chesnut Overo | 15.2 h| Photo © Carina Mailwald | © Vinyl |
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