The painted boy did not miss the way his mother’s eyes alighted at the sight of him. Nor did the smile that curved across her ash dusted lips escape his notice.Though she tried to be the calm figure of grace and poise as any good queen, it was moments like this, where her sadness broke through that reminded him of her mortality. Just as father, each passing day traced new lines of age upon her lips. New scars from past battles presented themselves upon her beautiful sleek hide in thin silver lines of white fur. Though her muzzle was not nearly showing the same spattering of gray as father’s now did, already Lougaru can pick out the first few hairs along her nostrils. His brows furrowed with worry. He hated the idea of losing his mother or his father.

The bright shine of her eyes alight his own as the small ghostly smile widens and broadens until it lifts his entire form. She answers his question with a small nod, her gentle lips tumbling the growing ends of his forelock as she often did. Usually her display of affection would be met with rebuke. Usually he would groan out a loud “Moooommm” and jerk his head from her reach. Usually he was against any form of affectionate display, however just alone with her now, Loupgaru relished the contact. Small ears perk amid the tangle of his cream and ivory mane as she speaks. Immediately he thinks of Zjeena. Though he had not spent much time with her, he knew of the creamy woman who ruled Paradise as a queen alongside Monster. The connection between the trio was something that the painted colt doubted he would ever be able to truly understand. Yet in the same moment, he could not deny the bond that was evident when they were together. Zjeena held a special place in Monster and Rougaru’s hearts and her sudden absence had hurt them both deeper than words could ever express.

A heavy sigh escapes his lips as golden gaze blinks sadly at her. ”You mean Zjeena right?” he asks, his usually gruff tones soft. He never interacted much with the mare, but her closeness to mother meant her memory should be treasured and he finds himself feeling the first glimmer of sorrow at her loss.

However, before the sorrow can fully settle into his soul, mother changes the subject with a wry smile. What had he been up to? Oh, he could talk forever about his adventures to any ear that was willing to listen for more than a few moments. Since Alpha’s birth, most of mother’s time had been devoted to ensuring that his brother was not harassing the herd. At first, Loupgaru had found it amusing and even adored his younger brother for it and for maintaining their parents' attention so that he can enjoy the first tastes of freedom the loosening reins provided. However, now, it was more irritating than anything else. The young colt never realized just how much he missed mother’s stories and games or the way she glared at him when he misbehaved.

Golden eyes brighten as the young colt puffs out his small chest and grins proudly up at his dam. ”I’ve been protecting the herd with dad! Did he tell you about the big black cat? It jumped right down out of the tree and I didn’t run away at all!” he bubbled excitedly, flexing his shoulders as if the memory of the feline’s sharp claws brought life to the wounds already healed over with healthy pink skin. ”Dad helped a little at the end, but I ran off that cat with its tail between its legs.” he puffed, lifting his chin proudly. ”Of course dad yelled at me for trying to fight it… but I showed him! I told him I am scarier than that big ole cat anyway.” He finishes with an excited flick of his tail. Golden eyes gleam as he shifts his weight excitedly, as though the big black cat might once more materialize from the shadowed jungle and once more give him an opportunity to prove himself. Sleek neck arches as he drops his muzzle to scratch at an itch on his nose. ”It was no big deal really. I can protect the herd too.”
.