There is one advantage to being a royal pain in the ass. Picking so many fights will eventually find you well practiced in battle. Liland has learned that much over the years. Diplomacy has never been his strong suit, but fighting. He's getting good at putting up a fight.

Zjeena won't blame Rougaru for losing. Liland has become a formidable opponent. The two stallions are well matched in both fitness and skill, but Liland has somehow managed to ally himself with Warsaw and remain neutral in the war. He's been sitting, fat and happy on his rock, admiring his collection of little trophies while the rest of them have been supporting their allies on the front lines. It's unfair when he shows up to battle well-rested and well-fed while Rougaru drags himself in already exhausted, and still healing from other injuries.

No, Zjeena doesn't blame Rougaru, but this doesn't mean she isn't disappointed. This doesn't mean she isn't angry. Liland has gotten away with far too much for far too long. It's time for the truth to come out. Vengeance will be hers.

Through a haze of tears, she sees Rougaru turn to her. He should be angry with her for lashing out, for sending him on an impossible. It was in poor taste and poor tactics. Zjeena should know better. She is the herd diplomat. She is the brain, the voice of reason, and in that moment she was everything but those things. All she could feel was her own hurt and her own anger. She wanted the world to fall at her feet and she didn't want to wait for it to happen. But now, in the calm after the storm, Zjeena realizes just how rash her actions really were. But he's not angry. He is patient beyond measure.

There is more to the wolf than just his teeth.

"No.", she breathes, leaning in to the tenderness of his touch. "I'm here, Rougaru." Zjeena didn't know how cold she was until the heat of their love begins to thaw her lonely heart. She can still feel her cheek burning from his molten touch. "I'm here.", she whispers.

The wolf steps back, and Zjeena fights the urge to step back into him and melt into the curve of his neck. There is so much that needs to be said. "It's not your fault." She shakes her head, long tendrils of mane swinging limp like her spirit. "I shouldn't have asked you to do that so soon after fighting in the war. The little bastard has somehow managed to remain allied with Warsaw without supporting the war effort. He came to battle fresh. You didn't." Zjeena's ears lace back at this realization. How has Liland managed to get away with so much? All he's ever cared about is himself. Are Zjeena, Rougaru and Monster the only ones who see it?

"You need to rest up. Find your strength and face Liland when you've had the chance to recover." Liland's name tastes bitter on the tongue. Her disgust reads clear. "The wolf bites harder when he's hungry." Zjeena advises. Fresh tears begin to dry and a new harshness returns to her eyes. The beast in Zjeena has not gone. It rages still, but as time wears on, Zjeena learns to control this monster Liland has created. Let its teeth tear the flesh of her enemies, but never again will it bite a lover.

ZJEENA

6 YEARS
MARE
FJORD
14.0 HANDS