Rougaru watches her from the short distance that separates them. From afar, it almost looked as though Sonorae stared at her daughter with wonder and adoration. It was only the closer he came that he began to see the uncertainty that colors the tension beneath her skin. The surprise in her eyes as he approaches causes the beast to growl, wondering if it was the damned stallion that she thought of when he approached her. Would she flinch at his touch? Was she beyond his reach? No. He could not think that. He would not imagine that world. Wounded as she may be, he had to think that still he could save her. Zjeena may be lost to him, but Sonorae was still here. He must cling to that hope regardless of how fleeting it may be.

She frowns at his praise, her gaze turning back to the sleeping child and Rougaru finds himself on uneven ground. For a moment, he wondered if he was sinking lower into the muck and mire around them. He had hoped his praise might brighten her smile, hoped that the acknowledgement of her daughter would bandage whatever wounds burned within her heart. However, it did not seem to be happening. Had he spoken wrong? Uncertainty dances in his multifaceted eyes as he takes a single faltering step forward.
There. The smallest of smiles flits across her lips at his mention of her and once more he feels his feet upon solid ground. There it was. A small smile but a smile nonetheless. He asks if she had chosen a name for the girl, and fleeting as it had been, again the smile disappears. A single mahogany ear tilts backwards in confusion as he watches her as once more the pale woman glances at the sleeping filly before turning back to him. Had he spoken wrong again? Already he feels his feet once more sinking into the mire of confusion.

But in the next moment she turns from the girl and slips to his side. Once more the softness of her skin presses against his own and Rougaru cannot stop the sigh of relief that escapes him. ’I’m sorry.’ the words whisper desperate from her quivering voice. Tightly she presses against his chest and hungerily he finds himself clinging to her. Perhaps part of it was Zjeena’s absence, perhaps it was because he truly feared she would leave, regardless of the fact, he holds her close, savoring the warmth of her fluttering heartbeat as it moved in tune to his own. Emerald eyes close as he takes a deep breath, inhaling her sweet scent and finding comfort in the familiarity that so long he had been without. ”For what?” he asks softly, his voice a barely audible whisper meant to keep from disturbing the slumbering filly. Almost reluctantly he pulled away from her, his whiskered lips drawing a gentle smile as he brushed the silken tendrils of her forelock from her eyes. ”It is not your fault my sweet dove. It is I who failed you….” he continues, choking back the pain and anger that threatened to overwhelm him whenever he thought of the months she had been forced to endure since that fateful visit to the main island. ”I did not protect you… I failed… but I won't let it happen again.” he promised, resolve solid on his tongue as his emerald eyes searching her own. It would not happen again.

She drops her gaze, remarking that she is no good at being a mother. Reassurance warms his eyes as he nuzzles her cheek. ”You are a wonderful mother my love…” he murmurs softly, turning his gaze once more to the golden filly. ”She is healthy… and by the small smile there on her lips as she dreams, she is happy too.” he adds, his tones reassuring.

Surprise widens his gaze as she offers to let him name the girl. Warmth floods his soul as a broad grin spreads across his lips. ”Are you sure?> he asks, searching her eyes before once more turning back to the small filly with wonder. She reminded him a bit of Celestria, her bright golden skin aglow in the dappled sunlight that filtered down from the trees above. Affectionately he leans against Sonorae again, enraptured by the sight. ”What if we name her together?” he asks, hoping that the union would reassure her of his intention to protect and cherish the child as he did her. Together.