Rougaru has a reputation on these islands, and so do some of his allies, but Zjeena is not one to take rumors as fact. While it's smart to heed a warning, Zjeena will not let the opinions of others do her thinking for her. She first used caution around Rougaru, treading carefully around a potential enemy, especially with young foals at her side, but her experiences here, and in the Bay after her departure, have shown her how wrong rumors can be.

The wolf is not an animal to be feared, but one to be respected.

Zjeena respects Rougaru, and this is perhaps the piece of the puzzle that was missing between she and Liland. Zjeena loved him. There's no denying that, but she never respected him. He always struck her as somewhat immature, and emotional. Zjeena was always the rational thinker in their relationship, and she was always painfully aware his shortcomings. She was able to look past them when she thought his heart was in the right place, but in their time apart, he lost his way. The parts of Liland worth loving were gone.

Zjeena has lost so much. The chasm of grief within her chest could grow large enough to swallow her whole, but in losing so much, Zjeena has also gained. The empty spaces in her heart instead begin to fill with a new love. She hesitated to let it in, but now that her decision is final, she can open the flood gates, and feel the full force of every emotion wash over her.

Rougaru's words, even a promise of sure destruction, are sweet poetry to Zjeena's ears. Her heart beats a little faster, and her sobs quiet to listen.

Talk to her tomorrow and the Zjeena Rougaru is most familiar with should be returned. Mark Liland as an enemy, but they need to follow through with their end of the bargain. They must leave Liland at peace until Zjeena has borne him one more foal. They must honor their word if they are to expect anyone else to do the same for them. The calculating diplomat in her will surely rise again, but Zjeena isn't in that head space now.

She instead, savors thoughts of sweet revenge.

Rougaru takes a step back, studying her with knowing eyes. He is as rational as she, and surely more so in this moment. Rougaru understands what she is going through, and that the difficulty of today's decision have clouded her judgement, but he still says everything she needs to hear. Even as she leaves the warmth of his embrace, she is cloaked in the warm blanket of his loving words. Her heart weeps for Liland, but it also weeps for Rougaru. She shudders under his touch. Her dark eyes find the intensity in his golden stare, and she presses her head to his.

As his words trail off, her own pick up. "I am yours.", she echos. "I should never have left you.", she admits, her voice cracking with the pain of regret. "I was blind to it then but I know now what I had. I love you, Rougaru. I love you." Saying the words out loud is such a relief. She was a bird, caged by denial, and suddenly the door has opened. She flies free on the wings of her confession. "I love you.", she murmurs one more time, her voice barely a whisper.

ZJEENA

5 YEARS
MARE
FJORD
14.0 HANDS