The silver bay stallion was thoroughly displeased with the recent turn of events. Part of him wondered if the vain attempt by Valka to escape to the Bay was not something she had cooked up simply for the chance to take Paradise from him. Of course he would have been more than happy to fight her to regain control. However once more the little mare managed to surprise him. She offered to freely return Paradise for him with one condition... that she and any others who wished to leave be freed to do so.

Now the beast in him scoffed, its golden eyes illuminated at the thought of pending battle. It had been too long since the wolf tasted the metallic tang of blood wetting its tongue. Yet Rougaru found himself agreeing to the small fuzzy mare's demands. The wolf had been furious, but the silver bay stallion had his reasons. He knew Valka was not content here in the jungle. Her densely covered coat and equally thick undercoat made even the cooler winter months difficult for her to bare. Rarely did he ever remember seeing her without at least some portion of her body darkened by sweat. He might have even felt bad enough to try and convince Ironclad to give the little mare to Solomon or the new lord of the Bay were it not for the continued dark looks she shot him. It had done much to tamper his energies spent on easing her discomfort. In the end, she solved the problem on her own.


The second part of her request was going to no doubt be a difficult one. Especially when it came to Vanya. He was rather fond of the spirited ballerina and her sultry figure. Though she had settled quite quickly into the role of motherhood, still she continued to threaten him of her escape. Valka's request was her golden opportunity. Now he could not deny that the thought of keeping the request to himself did not cross his mind. After all, it was only himself and Valka discussing terms and conditions. Once he had agreed she quickly saw herself to the shores and last glimpses of her was her small head bobbing over the cresting waves. No doubt she would find herself somewhere on Tinuvel. It suited her well. He had been content to part with her on these terms knowing that in technicalities sake he had kept his bargain with Ironclad. Because he had lost her in the end, well that was his loss was it not? The boy gained a Paradise princess from the bargain so surely that would quell any anger. In time, perhaps the small mare would manage to mend whatever broken fences her ways had caused, but for now he washed his hands of the situation and turned instead to find Vanya.

He might want to keep the news to himself but he was a proud creature and with that pride came a sense of loyalty and if nothing else at least he could say he was true to his word. He would give them their choice.

For the most part he felt fairly certain that Grier and Pidgeon would be content to stay. Zjeena had offered them their freedom to come or go as they saw fit before and he saw no reason that the situation had ever changed. Both mares seemed to fit smoothly into his pack of spirited creatures, their once thick coats now slick and thinned by time on the island of tepid climate. Vanya... now she was a mare of different character altogether. He did not doubt she would relish this opportunity and use it to gloat over his head at the fullest extent. Just the thought made his ears lay backwards in unrest. Yes no doubt he was in for a real treat.

Excitement shown in his eyes as he finds her grazing beneath the sheltered branches of the dense jungle. Drogon as always not far from her side. Though he was not the boy's sire, a fact made more clear every passing day, still he relished watching the young boy grow and mature with the passing seasons. No doubt in his prime, the colt would become a formidable foe or ally and a stealer of young girls hearts. At least that he could imagine he learned from Rougaru.

He stops a short distance from them. Ears press forward amid the wind knotted tangles of his silver white mane. "I thought I might find you two here...." he begins, doing his best to ease into conversation without fully provoking the mare's wrath. He is sure that will come soon enough. Multifaceted eyes of emerald green gleam in the shadowed light as paper thin nostrils inhale deeply Vanya's sharp, exotic scent. The wolf stood at attention, hunger lingering behind its yellow eyes. "Guess you will need to find a new hiding spot if you plan on avoiding me." he teased turning towards Drogon with a smile. "You look half asleep lad, not keeping your mother up all night asking questions again are you?" he asked stretching his muscular neck forward to nip the boy's flank fondly.

The wolf growled, reminding him of what he was here to do. He would get to it, he chided the beast... but not just yet.