The beat of stillness— of silence— that marked the stallions’ moment of mutual appraisal was brief, but to the younger those seconds stretched into a small eternity. Since his encounter with Cullen, he’d learned to be wary of his own gender. To anticipate violence even beneath the facade of friendship. In fact, if not for the crumbling of the only world he’d ever known, this moment would have never happened. Putting his face within reach of the stranger’s teeth… it felt strange and scary and wrong, but Hades was lonely. He was lonely and broken by the losses he’d suffered, and desperate for something— anything— to fill the hole that his family’s departure had left. The Ridge was too quiet; it hurt to see this stretch of beach empty of the life that’d once flowed down from the jungle and across the pale sands.

With a brush of whiskers and a gentle puff of warm breath, the red and brown chestnuts exchanged breaths. And though the young prince was quick to pull away after, a small measure of his tension eased. His dark ears crept forward and his posture relaxed into something less-rigid, if not entirely comfortable or confident. At the very least, it didn’t appear as if his companion was an immediate threat— an assessment backed by the stranger’s tentative words. I apologize for the intrusion. Hades’s gaze flicked towards the trees in search of Rivaini or Faolain before he remembered that he was the Guardian here now. That this land was his to claim and care for in the absence of the two mares. And he didn’t— he didn’t even know how to do that. He was more than just lonely; he was a lost. A lost boy.

My name is Jabari. I’m looking for… The youth’s head tipped gently to one side as he listened to the visitor’s brief description. He didn’t know of any Shamwari, but the dark mare had to be Faolain; only the black Teke had extended alliances. Rivaini, like her dark son, did not trust easily. She guarded her heart and her family fiercely, and would have undoubtedly chased this Jabari off to protect both. And in a world where the silver bay was still here, Hades might have stood at her side. But instead— instead the chocolate boy crept forward another step, striving for words and managing nothing but a soft strangled noise. Exhaling his breath in a frustrated hiss, he shook his head and glanced inland again. If Finch was here, she could speak for him— but she wasn’t, and he didn’t want to be alone anymore.

Hades tried again, his brow furrowed and his throat working soundlessly. The stallion was going to get frustrated if he couldn’t answer; he was going to leave. But as the panic began to rise within him, Jabari gave a little shrug of dismissal, and spoke again. I hope you don’t mind that I’m here. And he— he reached out again, desperate, pressing his muzzle to the curve of the overo’s shoulder in a soundless plea. He couldn’t tell this stranger that the leader he sought was gone, but sooner or later Jabari would find that truth for himself. And when he did, he would go.

When he did, the Ridge would be quiet and empty again.