Though news had reached his ears now that Faolain had disappeared from the islands and in her wake, Riviani too had taken her leave, still there was much turmoil that left Rougaru deep in thought. No doubt Hades would be left in charge of the Ridge, and perhaps soon, he would take the time to visit his crimson son. The strife between himself and the Ridge leaders had long prevented his influence on the young colt’s life, there was always the risk that their influence still might color his judgement of his sire however then again… there was still a sliver of hope and only a trip to the Ridge might uncover the truth.

Leaves rustle as the silver mare appears. For a moment Rougaru finds himself staring at her in confusion, doing his best to search through the memories of faces until recognition clicked firmly into place. Always she remained quiet and outcast, as though she feared the shadows and sought only the refuge that she expected Akela to bring her. He had seen children at her heels for several years now, their coloring and scent so similar to his own that he had no doubt they belonged to Akela. Always the young grullo stallion seemed to chase at her heels when he was not lost deep in thought of staring off into the distance. He had thought that the mare might be the beginning signs that the stallion was maturing and that some part of the fierce dominance that seemed prominent in all his other offspring might begin to appear, however not even foals seemed to have changed that save for taking his already lapse attention further away from his patrols.

Always when he was near, the meek mare seemed to find excuses to slip into the shadows as though she feared his gaze might settle on her in particular. Of course he had his own plate full with mares demanding his own attention or mares that were in need of his attention to ever turn his gaze on those that his sons had brought home. However instead of dropping her gaze and disappearing quickly into the shadows, She makes a cautious approach. Multifaceted eyes of emerald watch as she drops her head submissively, her dark gaze staring at his feet. The wolf in him smiled, reassured by the obvious display of submission. However, the feral beast warned him still that there was always a catch to everything.

As she slides nearer, a scent that had long been forgotten flashes into his mind. Himena. Tantalizing and seductive, the white smoke mare smiles at him in his mind, her dark eyes filled with venom and anger. The beast had wronged her, years she spent at his side, his faithful mate through the years when their family lived beyond the mountains to the east and yet he had abandoned her and their small herd of mares for the islands. She had sought him out, traveling far and with their youngest in tow only to find him settled neatly on Atlantis with not one but two new mates and children. He hated to admit that he had forgotten her but he had. Like a festering wound she always reappeared. The last time he had spoken to her still burns in his mind. So much passion and anger and hatred had screamed from both their lungs. That night, their coupling had been filled with hungry emotions and he could not entirely admit that it had been willing, or that he even fully remembered it. The beast had surged forward that night and in the reins of the creature he had been but a bystander.

Himena’s death had been pushed to the back of his mind for a reason. He did not want to remember the image of her small frame, broken and bloodied on the jungle floor. It was only later that Nasa and Monster informed him that the tiny filly she had struggled to bring into the world did indeed survive. Ears fold backwards as a flash of pain gleams in his emerald eyes, jaws clench together as he fights back the mention of her name on his tongue. Despite the lack of connection he felt with the pale mare, he had still cared deeply for her.

As she nears, the silver mare brings with her an all too familiar scent and one that causes his ears to disappear in displeasure. Solomon. Once again, their lineages intertwined through offspring and while he might wish to change that, he knew that never could he bring himself to harm a child. They were still his blood after all. He had known that Himena sought other partners when she had come here, hoping no doubt to stir some form of jealousy from the wolf. Knowing now that in her death, she had sent her daughter, the tainted bloodline of Solomon to seduce his son was unnerving. Not only was it just any one of his sons, but it was the only tie left to Zjeena that the girl had chosen. He had always hoped that one day, Akela might succeed him in this life and take charge of Paradise in his wake. He hoped that the level-headed stoic nature of the ice queen and the fierce loyalty of his own family lines might prove to make the young prince a legendary leader. And yet, as the years progressed, Akela showed even less interest in taking over, if it were even possible.

Suppressing a growl, the aging wolf forces his ears to prick forward amid the tangled knots of his cream and caramel mane. Muscles coil beneath the mahogany color of his neck as the stallion forces his gaze from the mare beside him and out into the deep greens and browns of the jungle underbrush. Her words instinctively cause his gaze to shift and travel over the bush, searching for any signs of potential threat or danger to his herd. Her words are timid and yet even the suggestion that something might be out there is enough to cause him to be ready to leap forward to defend those beneath his charge. A quick surveillance of the landscape promised no changes and a single brow raises as he turns his fierce gaze on her. ”Is there something I should be searching for?” the question is full of apprehension. For a few moments longer he allows the silence to be held between them, holding her gaze as though somehow the wolf expected her to spill her whole life story. However as the silence continues to linger, finally he speaks once more. ”You have been here a long time now. What is your name?” he knew it very well but nonetheless he wanted to hear it. Wanted to hear her ties to the frozen king and whether he should see her parted from his son and sent back alone to give her sire his best regards.