Pride always comes before the fall. At least that is what the old stories tell. The victory against Cain had been one hard won, but he had been determined to say the least. Cain’s interference with Melinoe had wounded the wolf. A wound that had continued to fester and grow until it ached in the beast’s very soul. The woman of black and white lingered in his thoughts as a memory turned dream. Months later, he felt the chill of her glacier blue eyes as they rose to meet his gaze. She had been filled with the fury of the seas, her venom as potent as the sting of her hooves as they scored his skin. She had been a gale, a torrential downpour and that downpour had left its mark upon his soul. Melinoe showed the same fire and fury that Monster and Vanya did, even if her fury was directed at him. It infuriated him to think that her fury and disdain might not have been so vicious if it was not for Cain.

But the stallion had paid his price. The wolf had taken his pound of flesh in the form of the fire and snow Chelle that spent the majority of her time pacing restlessly back and forth along the shorelines as though she feared to leave the sands. She was a strange mare in Rougaru’s opinion, but he wondered how much different she might have been if it had been he who found her first instead of Cain. Would she have preferred the moist, dense jungle instead of the arid desert openness? Would she have been his intense green eyes with excitement in her own? Perhaps. Now, now that hope had long gone but that did not stop him from trying to sow those seeds of doubt in her mind. Cain had undermined him again and again, was it not only fair that he did the same?

Speaking of the devil.

Ears press forward amid the tangle of wind-swept cream and caramel locks as the thick baritones of Cain ring over the squawking of parrots and chirping insects. Multifaceted pools of emerald green narrow as immediately he takes leave of his leisurely gazing among the tall grasses that grew around the ripening papaya trees. He had been expecting Cain to make his appearance sooner rather than later. In truth, the chocolate wolf was surprised that Cain had taken his time in coming, no doubt, like himself, there were moments and situations that made juggling the decisions difficult. At least however, he was here now and Rougaru was ready for him.

The chocolate dappled stallion wastes no time in making his way down the winding trail to the beach where the black and white stallion waited. Part of him expected Chelle to beat him there, another reason for his hurried steps, it did his ego good to arrive on the scene first. A broad grin slid across his ash dusted lips as Rougaru slowed his gait to a casual shuffle. Thickly muscled neck coils as his broad head bobs in greeting. ”Cain…. A pleasure to see you as always.” he drawls, his thick baritones dripping in sarcasm for it had long been a whisper among the islands for their mutual hatred of each other. Dark tipped ears tilt sideways as he halts just in front of the black and white desert born stallion, carefully keeping himself between Cain and what lay beyond. ”I assume you are here with some bargain attempt for Chelle’s return, am I correct?” he begins, arching a single brow as his weight shifts from one hind hoof to allow it to cock at an angle against the sand beneath him. Long cream and caramel tail whisks lazily about his ankles, billowed here and there by the invisible zephyrs that dance around them. ”As the visitor I suppose it is only fair that you begin…” he continues as a lazy yawn is forced past his whiskered lips. Golden eyes glitter fiercely. ”Do tell.” he finishes, a cheshire grin tugging at his handsome features.