The women were unhappy and in a way he understood their dismay. No one wanted to be somewhere they did not, themselves, choose. He wished he had a better handle on the reins of the Lagoon. He wished that they were seen as more than a cacophony of miscreants out to make the lives of mares hard.

He had come for brotherhood, too young to make his case to so many unrelated studs and mares out in the world trying to build kingdoms instead of families. So many wanted legacy over success in cutting out a slice of their own for a home. Who cared if they could take over the entirety of an island when they couldn’t even keep the core of their ‘kingdoms’ happy? Power without the ambition to find success beyond their own acquisition and conquest was a defeat that few accepted to see.

He looks at the cunning glances, attuned to the women and children in a way that the others had thought would be indicative of ‘good guard’ without realizing his motivation was not entirely to the benefit of thieves and marauders.

Diomedes had never been bold enough to teach these mares how to break free or how to escape outright - worried that they’d be hurt in the attempting…

But Psychedelic had finally lost. Lost a challenge, then even lost to HIM. The loss was enough to embolden him and while they walk onwards, he approaches the most venomous glaring of the mares in question. "When we make it to the shoreline, break south. Take refuge on Salem. Swim hard and you can make an escape. But I will need you to give me a solid kick in the chest or ribs." his tone is low, eyes sharp and heavy with command. "I can’t cover your retreat, but if you have the fire to glare at me for this long, you have the strength to make it to the coast and then swim on to Salem."

He shakes, disruptive of anyone that might be spying or approaching the group of captives and trinkets - "My half sister reports that the Peak now trains the princess of the Dunes to protect herself and others before her ascension… if you cannot trust anywhere else, try there. Look for one of four brothers named for stars."

And then their feet hit sandy shoreline.