Emotions were a thing the bay man refused to dwell on. He remembers a time in which he allowed himself to love and allowed himself to be happy. He remembers those days fondly and with a wish to be that way again, but he knows it cannot be. Those days had not lasted long. The happiness had turned to tears of pain and then to the screams of anger. He remembers the happiness turning into a foul thing that destroyed everything it touched. He remembers the darkness of depression clawing its way deep into the soul of his one love. He had seen the after math of their last fight and that was a sense of guilt he could never erase. He was doomed to forever seek forgiveness for a death he had no hand in. If they had not fought that night, perhaps even now she’d be alive. Perhaps even now they’d be madly in love with a harem of children, but could she have loved the monster he had become? Even before her death?

Veteran had no hope for the future. He lived each day as if it were his last. He did not imagine that he would live too much longer. The monsters that fed off his sins would come for his soul soon enough. He could hear them scratching at his door every time he closed his eyes. Every moment was lived in the thoughts of death. He felt no pity for himself as death lingered close by waiting for her perfect chance to strike him down. He felt a sense of relief. He wanted it to be over. He wanted his suffering to be at an end and he wanted those around him to be free of the torment they might experience at his hands.

He was a good man; at least he had been a good man. His heart had once been in the right place and his intentions pure. He had joined a warrior group of stallions in hope of protecting the kingdom he had so longed to be a part of. Yet, that decision would be his down fall. If he had decided to follow another path, perhaps his heart wouldn’t have turned so black and his soul would have been tainted by the evil he had done. He joined the warrior clan with the intent of making a name for himself and to protect those around him. He had wanted to keep the women and children safe but all he had done in the end was destroy them. Women always told stories of the boogey man. They made sure that the man sounded like a freak of nature but what they didn’t tell their children was the more important lesson. The true monsters were the ones you trusted the most.

He chuckles at her words. The humor is nice and he is perhaps for the first time in a long time relaxed. There isn’t overly much for him to be concerned about. With the summer heat not much dared to wander in the day and at night the predators were forced to prey upon one another or head outside of the dunes. His herd was small, far too small to be of concern. Yes, there was for the time being nothing for him to worry about. He could for once enjoy the company of another and just allow it to be (although he wouldn’t think about the confusing feelings that are rising up now).

“Aye, those two will forever go back and forth like an old married couple.” There is a glint of humor in his eyes and his gruff tones give way to a happy voice that seems to be carefree. For just a moment the younger version of the stallion rings on through and he is perfect. He is also handsome and charming and everything he could have hoped to be. Yet, it is only a shadow and in a split second the old stallion is back with his scars and his hunted look. He might be enjoying himself but he can never truly let go of the demons that want his soul.

He hears her speak but knows that it is not him she speaks to. He knew of the demons her dam had carried and knows that she speaks to the same demons. He feels for her as he knows that she might face the same downfall as her mother but he hopes that the strength she has will be enough and that the control she has will stay as strong as it does now. She is a young woman yet with lots of years left in her and he could see her staying in command of them all, but he also knew her mother to be a strong woman and in the end she had fallen down into the pits of hell.

Words are spoken once more and he once again turns his attentions back to the soot colored mare near him. He gives her a wry smile and nods slowly. “It is hard to find good company. I have long since come to accept the evil I have done, but I worry about those I bring home. They do not know of the evil I have done and of the evil I may once again commit even though I told myself I would never do it. Staying alone is perhaps the safest thing I could do for anyone. Why I chose now to have a herd, I do not know. Perhaps it is because I’m growing old and I know my death is soon to be here.” He gives her a boyish good look when she speaks of her parents once more. They had all respected one another but on many levels they did not know what the other was exactly capable of. “Aye. I have grown weary of all of these feminine ladies that are afraid to get their hooves dirty.” The truth is out there but he doesn’t speak of just the ladies but the men as well. Over the years he has watched as others birthed children and watched as mothers babied their kids to the point of madness. Stallions these days as well were afraid to get their hooves dirty and it all drove the king to madness.

Veteran longed for the days of old. If given a second chance he would start his life over and not commit the atrocities he had. When he had been a young boy, men had been created out of hardship and the women he had known were strong women. They had been pushed to do more and to live off of less. These days it seemed to be the opposite. Men were created and left to do as they please and they came with a sense of entitlement. Women were expecting to be fawned over and constantly looked after. Who in their right mind had time for that? Not this painted king, that’s for sure. He had better things to do than to keep an eye on every woman that came into home and as for the entitled, they’d learn quickly that life wasn’t like that. If he had to be the one to teach them the lesson, well so be it.


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