Use caution when the Wolf comes aknockin; (Rille) Posted on November 5, 2020 at 04:17:43 PM by Rougaru
Rougaru hated himself. The wolf hated him. When finally the time came he almost had to force himself to put one foot in front of the other even against the beast’s reins. The creature wanted nothing more than to see the silver stallion’s blood pool beneath his hooves and yet, it was Rille that had bested him in battle and taken Pidgeon and in turn Grier from him. Paradise was weakening in his outward reach and the battle with Rille a mere reminder that he must regain some sense of control and composure. The wolf might not agree with his decision, but it did agree with one thing, that this choice… this decision… was done for Grier and Pidgeon.
Although he himself had not spent much time with either mare, Zjeena had. Their decision to stay in Paradise ultimately came from the strength and sincerity in her voice when Liland’s crimes finally came to light. While he did enjoy watching the mares converse together in quiet peace, he had never thought to interrupt or join in. Not until now. Now that they were gone, he felt their absence like a thorn festering into his skin. Each day, the unknown left him wandering alone along the shoreline, his gaze turned towards the sea in hopes of seeing their familiar faces bobbing above the turbulent waters. Day and night, his travels always led back to the shore where again and again he found himself struggling with the beast. He could take them back, force Titiana back with her new foal for good measure… but something in the sadness of Zjeena’s eyes and the gleam in Monster that kept his hold on the wolf tight. He was not ready to risk them… not yet.
The recent passing of Warsaw was enough to at least cause the beast to subside its forceful distaste for the idea of talk. With Warsaw gone, and his strengthened distrust for Cullen growing with each passing day. Bjorn and Shamwari’s disappearances left him with a new sense of need. His alliances were disintegrating before his very eyes. Only Solomon still remained though how secure that alliance would ever be he was unsure. It was Warsaw that had truly been the reason he had agreed to coexist with the painted stallion of the Cove. Since then, they had become silent alliances for the stallion seemed to be wrapped tightly into his own herd as Rougaru let himself be as well. Some seasons simply required it.
However now, Rougaru felt the growing need to once more secure worthy allies should the need arise that a war might be called. A small smile tugged at his lips as he gave his thickly muscled body a quick shake, cream and caramel colored locks snapping audibly against his shoulders. So far, he had hopefully secured the Ridge and soon he would venture to the Harbor to insure that there too he would find purchase for his hooves. A foal might be a shaky attempt to reach for loose vines but he had to do what must to secure the safety and security of his family. A new son or daughter was never a curse in his eyes anyway and secretly it thrilled him to think that finally his foals would begin to spread across the island.
Rille. For now, he must focus his mind and the wolf on addressing Rille and the possibility of what the stallion might have to offer. As discussed, he approaches the falls with ears perked and proud head lifted, not daring to let his once opponent imagine him a defeated wreck. Ash dusted nostrils flare as the stallion inhales the thick sweet scent of fresh water from the falls. Though he was not particularly thirsty, the cool waters of the falls proved all too tempting and since he had nothing else to do now except wait for the Thicket stallion, he dropped his head to drink his fill from the rushing waters.