Orphiel was doing as he was supposedly meant to do. He stepped forward to face a challenge to the Lagoon when it seemed no other bachelors were there to do so. (Unfortunately, he lost.) He stopped the very same mare from taking a scared young stallion out of the Lagoon when she’d greedily returned for more. He even pushed himself from the sheltered comforts of the Lagoon to walk along the common grounds, keeping an eye out for forceful herd leaders set to drive unknowing new horses away. Despite doing everything he was meant to do, the gnawing ache inside him only grew worse. He only became more withdrawn and antisocial. He kept to himself, mostly, and his heart, once warm and kind, had grown as cold and harsh as the ice that whipped through winter winds and stung at his eyes and his skin.
Orphiel was no longer the sweet, happy boy he had been just a year or so ago. He was a matured stallion now and time sparring among the Lagoon bachelors had helped him grow into himself. There were new scars scattered on his yellow cream coat, and his left ear had a small nick in it that was barely noticeable unless you were close.
He assumed today was a day like all the rest where he’d force himself from the Lagoon borders and make a slow lap around the Commons only to find absolutely nothing. He would forage, maybe break ice over the creek for a quick drink, then circle back and return to his solitude among the bachelors.
It was not going to be that sort of day today.
Orphiel went completely rigid and his lackluster posture disappeared in an instant. His head shot up, dark nostrils flaring outward and his ears tilted forward. He watched her and felt that burning ache in his heart. It was nothing like the emptiness he felt in his day-to-day life. The pain of seeing Parvati was like nothing he had ever experienced. The loss of his mother, the knowledge his father had purposefully abandoned them… none of it. Seeing her…
His dark-lined ears flicked back, watching her as she trotted around the black stallion she’d approached. They pinned as his mood soured even further. She was clearly here to collect yet another lover for her flock, and the disgust and anger he felt was born of jealousy he knew he should only feel shame for. It should be him she wanted… it should be him home and happy with her and Devi. The three of them exploring the brambles of the Thicket…
But those days were long gone.
Orphiel started forward and though his ears were no longer pinned, they were still turned somewhat back. His gold eyes glanced over the pale stallion that approached but immediately returned to Parvati. After feeling numb for so long the heat of the rage just the sight of her inspired in him was… almost intoxicating.
“He’s not.” Orphiel said flatly, and fought through the way his throat tried to tighten up at being near her. How much every inch of his body burned to press up against hers. He glanced at the black stallion, then back at Parvati. “He’s not going home with you unless he wants to go home with you.”
What he wanted to say was that the stallion wasn’t going home with her at all. He wanted to pin his ears and strike out and drive them away from her. He didn’t want her near any stallion. If he couldn’t have her, why should anyone else get to?
Orphiel controlled his urges and finally spared the pale stallion a brief glance before he added as clarification for the dark stallion (who may be confused why a stranger approached out of nowhere and had the power to veto Parvati’s claim), “The Lagoon bachelors patrol the Commons. We’re meant to stop anyone from taking someone who doesn’t want to be taken.” His gold eyes leveled on Parvati and rather than melt (like he so terribly wanted to) his gaze and his heart hardened, remembering the way she’d continued to attack the Lagoon. “Especially from those who like to cause trouble with us.”
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