The Vulcans had become a nuisance. After their initial attempt to take the Lagoon's trinkets by force had failed, the mares of the mountain had resorted to thievery to try and achieve their ends. And so their persistent efforts had carried Rade through the spring and toward summer's sweltering heat; a pattern of diligence and defense. An exasperating cycle with no end in sight. Another stallion might have eventually retaliated in kind - to send a message to those wretched women that the Lagoon would not humor their constant harassment for much longer - but the palomino was uninterested in anything the Peak had to offer him.

Or at least, he had been until their most recent effort.

There was no mistaking the identity of the painted mare, though it had been years since they had last seen each other. Rade would have known her even if he had not seen her golden eyes - a tribute of Styrke's blood. Of his blood. Perhaps it should not have surprised him that his brother's daughter had ended up among the free females of the Peak; she carried the same legacy of strength that he did, tempered by a self-discipline the palomino had never achieved. But the revelation had done more than shocked Rade - it had stung him. As if her alignment with the Vulcans was a final, vindictive attempt to punish the golden stallion for the mistakes he had made in his youth. To take from him until he had nothing left.

He should have driven Skylar off with teeth and hooves, made it clear to her that she was as unwelcome here as the memories her appearance had unearthed. But like Felony, the painted mare was a tenuous link to his lost brother. She was family - one of the dwindling few who remained to remind Rade of the carefree youth he had once been. Of course, it was too late to turn back - to become that boy with the bright smile, the warm laughter. His world had changed, and Rade had hardened along with it. He could not trust another enough to expose his emotions, to embrace the vulnerabilities of love. But those things were still there, buried beside the remnants of his regret.

So he had invited Skylar into his home, baiting her with the temptation of the trinket she had failed to take. It was better this way - easier to look on it is a business meeting, and nothing more. He would make his request, let her have what she wanted, and then Skylar would leave. Still, Rade felt naked as he stepped from the darkness, and wished he had thought to cover his coat in the level of grime that was customary among the majority of the bachelors. His flawless golden skin was too easily distinguishable from the last fleeting shadows; it made Rade uncomfortable to be so exposed, to know that there was nowhere - and perhaps nothing - that he could hide from her.

“So brave to stand in the enemies' lair and show no fear. But not wise. I would ask you not to call any more attention to our meeting - the other men are not likely to approve of your presence here.” Despite their weight, these words left his lips lightly - as if his impending betrayal of the brotherhood was only a minor concern.

stallion // mongrel // 15.1hh // 8 // palomino roan // reba
debonaire x neassa