The conversation with the spotted Savanna stallion drifted through Ruger’s mind nearly nonstop. He would not leave Fearghas alone to combat the Lagoon, despite owing no loyalty to the practical stranger. But this life he was living in the Prairie was no longer the same. All that remained at his side was Evanescence and his nightmares. Not even Cherish lingered in his company. She had surely grown bored of him and this monotonous lifestyle. But there was only one way to change that, and he had to make the first step.
Trusting that Evanescence and their young daughter would be okay in his absence, Ruger stepped away from the Prairie and into the chilled water. It had been some time since he had felt the salty grasp of the sea, but he made his way through it with the same confidence he tried to embrace with everything in life. Only, as he stepped onto the Crossing, that knot of anxiety curling in the pit of his stomach did not give way. If anything, it tightened its grasp. With a snort, he shook away the water that slicked his winter coat and moved forward anyways. Being a coward would not fulfill what he had come here to do.
Taking into account of where he had landed, it nearly disgusted him to be in the Commons. Shaking his head with ears pinned, Ruger began to trek his way towards the Lagoon. Only, as he reached the edge of the forsaken territory, he saw another stallion lingering there too. Something was familiar about him. Some instinct drawing him in towards the paint. Without realizing it, Ruger had changed course, bringing him over to the stranger. “This is not the place to be.” he stated. “I think it best you come with me, else you may become another Lagoon pawn to play with.”