Rougaru could hardly believe this had become his reality. When first he made his return to the islands, he had fully intended to burn them down. He saw an island of untamed beauty and longed to be the force behind the leash. His little viper had been a happy accident. He had come upon her with the sole desire to gather to him a nice little hoard of perpetual followers, breeders that lived and breathed for the whisper of their names upon his tongue. He knew that there would be a few, some who balked at the demand he set before them. Monster had been his first. She was fierce and independant, quick to toss a venomous insult or vicious reprimand. She was not afraid to use her own tooth and nail despite the overpowering demeanor the wolf left. She saw the creature that lurked beneath the surface and reveled in its freedom. It was her fierce spirit that fanned the dwindling embers in his soul until once more the flame of power shown bright behind those emerald eyes.

His separation from her did more than to remind him the need he felt for her presence. Though he spent many nights longing to feel the rake of her blunt teeth upon his chocolate skin, or the sting of pain from her worn hooves as they made connection with his hide, there was something else that he realized when she was gone. Loneliness. The wolf mourned her absence with endless nights of song, its voice calling to the silver moon when pride kept Rougaru's own lips silent. Father's voice hissed in his mind, the wolf keen to remind him that he needed no one to make his plans a reality but then, those same feral voices screamed for the feel of her skin.

His visit to Warsaw's Inlet did much to aide in this thinking process. He saw the gentleness in the eyes of the gray warlord as he met the gentle eyes of his smokey queen. She held herself with pride, her small head lifted defiantly as though she challenged him herself. A part of him imagined that the gray king was becoming soft in his age but the smoothness in which the pair interacted did leave him curious. Warsaw had always been his match, a stallion who saw the same determined fate as himself. Their dreams were bathed in crimson flow, power and authority drowning out the pitiful screams and cries of those who stood against them. The dream had seemed far fetched in the beginning, a lonely king's desire for power... now, now it seemed so close at hand. And beside every king there must be a queen equally fearful and fervent.

Zjeena had taught him this. Though she was no replacement for his beautiful painted viper, the small fjord mare had proven to be a worthy associate. She maintained her grace and poise despite falling victim to the argument between himself and Liland. Despite being uprooted with two small foals, she maintained her composure and her allegience to the pale Bay stallion. Of course Rougaru would rather have kept her here with him, but still during her stay he had come to respect her and would not deny her request. It helped that he felt fairly certain that now she carried his child deep in her belly, a reminder to the pale king that Rougaru would be the better stallion. Zjeena taught him the importance of a wise queen, and Monster though young, was that mare.

He breathes in her scent, dark emerald green eyes glittering in the faded light of day. She squeals her challenge, forelimbs striking at the frothy surf that coiled around their hooves and soaked their already sweat lathered skins. A deep chuckle rumbles from his lungs as the stallion gives his proud head a toss, a coy smile playing upon his lips. Yes, the islands would fear her.

"Warsaw is gathering his alliances." he murmurs, his dark gaze emotionless now as he meets her brown and blue gaze evenly. "A battle is coming." he continues, thick tail flicking idly against his thickly muscles haunches. Twin harks flex backwards as the images of Shamwari and Liland flash before his eyes. "They will come for you." he continues, his voice growing dark with disgust. "Liland is determined to take what is mine and Shamwari... well..." he continues, his voice trailing now as a hint of laughter plays upon his lips. His gaze turns to where Beowulf stood, gazing contently alongside Celestria. "He has his reasons." he finishes. As peaceful as this moment was, he knew that it would not last. Nonetheless, he reveled in the moment he was allowed with Monster alone. She needed to know what words his soul did not speak aloud.