Go on. Bare your teeth at me.
I'll pull them out
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He could not take his eyes off of her as she became more alert and focused, returning to this small moment they shared. Raegar was no stranger to mares being uncertain of him, given that his method of herd growth was often to escort them to the Badlands, willing or not, and
then win them over with his charm. He had learned the hard way that this often set the stage for an uphill battle, but it hadn't stopped him from continuing on in this vein. A good fight always lifted his spirits, after all.
Raegar couldn't say for certain that his touch on her shoulder was waking her back up faster, but it seemed like it was, which was good enough for him. Anything was better than the zombie-like trance she'd been in when he first approached, her lips reaching for the death-granting flower. He eagerly bumped his muzzle against hers when she offered it, letting his warm breath plume softly against her own as he nickered under his breath, more vibration than sound.
As he pulled away, she confessed to having been here a month and he frowned, surprised that she was in such poor condition after such an extended stay among summer and autumn grasses. He, who had had little experience with heartbreak and only a faint grasp of the deep sadness his mother had gone through when he'd been freshly born, could not fathom a lack of desire to survive and thrive. But he was willing to try. She seemed worth trying for, though he'd known her for only scarce moments.
"I wouldn't let her take you," he assured her, referring to the ocean with a grin. It was pure hyperbole of course, Raegar had no magical ability to thwart the will of the ocean, but that didn't mean he would let Evangaline go willingly or without a fight.
She surprised him again by requesting that they travel before the night fell and he chuckled faintly, his tail flicking excitedly across his hocks. He still wore fresh bruises and cuts from his scuffle with Fell, but those had never truly deterred him from swimming back home right away. After all, there was no better recovery from a fight than curling up against Hawa or spending the evening playing with his children, so he often ended up hurrying home.
"Okay," he agreed, willing to take the risk if it meant that he'd be able to show the pony mare his home and introduce her to the rest of his family. Mena might be a little ornery at his insistence on adding new members in autumn, but he was certain that she would help him with showing Vangie the way of life in their little home.
"You'll like Salem." He offered with a grin. He'd been born and raised in the canyons of the Badlands and in all of his travels had never encountered a prettier or more perfect place.
"Have you ever been?" He questioned as he fell into step beside her, then carefully began to lead her in the correct direction for Salem. They'd have to cross the Meadow before they reached the ocean, but it was often a pretty trek along the river fed by the Falls.