Rade is intrigued by the pale individual's confidence - it casts doubt on his original assessment of an inquisitive child, though the lanky lines of youth still cling to Kendry's body. Turning the whole of his attention to the younger of the pair, the palomino's ears pitch forward at the sound of the grinning colt's speech, and a genuine smile curves his own lips upward. The question would be ridiculous - if it wasn't nearer to the truth than Rade wanted to admit. The bachelors' existence here was certainly no secret, but most of them were elusive creatures, tucking themselves into corners of the forest and rarely venturing from their complacent concealment.

This boy possessed a boldness and bravery to rival most of the so-called men here.

“Nothing quite so cool, I'm afraid,” the palomino says with sincerity, his amber eyes probing the other's expression. “We are a bachelor herd - men who have chosen to exist outside the conformity of the herds that exist elsewhere.” Of course, theirs was only a different brand of conformity; as a social race, horses relied on the security of numbers to survive, and the stray stallions who made their home here were no exception. The bachelors may not be a family, but they were a brotherhood.

“And our existence here is hardly a secret,” Rade continues with a throaty chuckle. “Any man is welcome to join our ranks, should he seek acceptance as one of the herd.” The palomino places careful emphasis on that single word; there are more than enough women in this place already. Too many, and a couple of them had both overstepped their bounds and overstayed their welcome. When the power Rade seeks is within his grasp, he will see to the culling of willful and weak women, so that only those with worth will remain.

The young man before him, on the other hand, would certainly be a welcome addition, but Rade curbs the questions that linger on the tip of his tongue. He doesn't want to press too hard or seem to desperate; for now he must count on the curiosity of youth to bring the boy into his grasp.


stallion // mongrel // 15.1hh // 6 // palomino roan // reba
debonaire x neassa