Madness; this was a disease the painted stallion knew well. He may not have been as familiar with it as dear old Sweeney Todd, but he knew it all too well. He knows that everyone has their own demons and while there are a select few that are born with them like the previously mentioned, others are created. Veteran’s demons have been carefully created by his own past mistakes. He would give anything to go back and fix them. He regrets his past and he regrets living. Veteran is tired, oh so very tired of the ghosts that haunt them. Even now he can hear them whispering in his ears. They are trying to lull him into a false sense of security so they can steal what is left of his soul. If only he could let them take it. Then the pain would be at an end, or so he hopes.

He remembers Evanescence well and tried his best to stay with her until the end. She had been a dear friend and one that he had trusted well. Sweeney had been a close friend as well; he understood the pain the painted man felt in his bones even if he couldn’t quite relate. He remembers Mr. Todd being something of a cold brute and not quite all there, but none the less he had been a friend. After those two, he didn’t exactly have friends. He wandered for a time, ending up in a place called the Four Seasons but his stay there hadn’t been long. He was a wandering man and always will be. Even his time here was limited. Who is to say he doesn’t just pack up and leave tomorrow, leaving his place to his second in command?

Although he does like to wander, he also knows he is getting old. While being ten may not be very old, he felt old. He felt an ache deep in his heart (what little piece of heart he had left) and his soul ached. God did it ache. He hoped for freedom most every day but he always woke up to his prison. It was one he himself had created and he himself could easily take it apart but he felt that he deserved to suffer. The unspeakable acts he had committed as a young warrior continue to haunt him even now. These deeds must have happened at least five years back and he still holds onto them like a ball and chain. Each step always feels heavier than it ought too, but when you’re trapped in your own hell everything feels oh so different.

He did indeed have a reason for choosing The Dunes as his home. He wanted to make sure that the place he found himself in would breed strong future generations and this place would tell him who would make it and who wouldn’t in his herd. He would make mistakes and bring home weak blood and the desert that is his home would show him his mistake. He would only breed with those proven to preserve his strength and his bloodlines. He hadn’t always been so picky but he knew that his demons could perhaps be passed on and he wanted to make sure that any child of his would survive the first year within the darkness of their own mind. It took him a lot longer than that to make it through, but the first year is absolutely critical.

He chuckles at her first set of words. He does indeed know what time does to a creature. He had once been a handsome and roguish stallion. Now he was battered and bruised and despite it all, managed to hold on to a dignified air. He was no longer a boy but a man and a man that knew the darkness in everyone’s heart.

A gentle nip is offered in return but there is a ghost of a smile on his dark lips. His heart is very glad to see a familiar face, especially one so grown up. He marveled in her transformation from the young and leggy filly she had been to a delightfully built woman. She had curves in all the right places and her color was a nice midnight black. He was very delighted to see her and perhaps more but those were feelings he wasn’t quite ready to explore yet. To say Veteran has ever been in love would be a slight lie. In his youth there might have been the numerous flings and there was one woman that had been incredibly special to him, but that was a memory he tried not to think of. His ghosts would take it and destroy it like he had destroyed her. Yes, it was better to leave that in its heart shaped box hiding in the darkest corner of the highest tower.

“Well, I am happy to see you found me. You know this place is always open to you and could perhaps be your home if you should choose it to be.” He had no doubt that she would be staying with him and for some unknown reason he was excited for this. Veteran knew it was more than just the fact there would finally be estrogen in his damned home. No, it was far deeper and far greater than that but he wasn’t quite ready to go down that road. For now he would chalk it up to it being a familiar face; a face he knew he could open up to and would understand his shadows. For even now he can see the darkness that lurks around her, much like her own mother’s but different. He was wise enough to not comment on it. They both had their own demons and this was not the time to talk about such unpleasant things. No, this was a time for catching up.

He tosses his head in a gentle way, his only intent to fix his mane. He watches her in silence and listens when she speaks. He doesn’t quite remember giving anyone such devoted attention in a long long time and he rather enjoys being able to focus on just one being without qualm. He knew once there were more ladies it would no longer be like that. Women, most women anyway, were fickle things and demanded so much time. Perhaps that is why he was excited to have the dark one with him. She wouldn’t require all of his attention and for that he would make all the time in the world for her.

“Aye, I do know of your blood.” Is all he has to stay on that topic. There isn’t much for him to say on the issue, not anymore anyway. He was quite content to let the dead rest in the peace they were able to find, although he doubts their mutual connection was able to find much of any. “Well, given time I’m sure you’ll rise through the ranks quickly and if that spot is taken I would not argue your right to fight for it. If that does not suit you I am sure I could make a new position for you. I would not be wrong to do that. If it does come to that my dear shadowy friend, you would perhaps get more power than the lead mare, should I happen to have one.” He knows his words are lengthy but there is a truth to them all. He knows that lead mares will come and go and the only other he knew he would be sharing the land with was Fairuza, a delightful young mare and by young he meant young. She was quite innocent and he sadly didn’t see her lasting too long in The Dunes. If the heat didn’t get to her, her need to explore would. She had mentioned wanted to see The Peak in the future and he wouldn’t stop her when that day came.

“It is nice to see you again. I do mean that Skraeling. It does an old man some good to see a friend that has grown up so, nicely” There is an emphasis on nicely for that isn’t quite the word he is looking for, but for a reason unknown to the painted stallion, words elude him. The past was trying to push forth but with the company of another (one who has all of his attention) he, for the first time, has no problem fighting them back. It’s only temporary but he will take what he can.


Eye For An Eye
A Tooth For A Tooth
Blood For Blood
We've All Gotta Die