Darkness was universally feared; many believed that it was evil, unnatural, though in truth it was nothing more than the absence of light. Perhaps it was the unknown that they truly feared - the mystery of what the shadows might conceal. Or it might be that they were attempting to deny the existence of the darkness within themselves - instead of embracing it, as the palomino stallion had done. His youthful failures had taught him the futility of attempting to follow in his father's hoofsteps; he was a selfish creature, incapable of putting the protection of a herd before his own interests. Joining the Lagoon's ranks had not been a surrender, but an inevitability against which he had no longer cared to struggle. Rade belonged here.

There was nothing about Rade's appearance to hint at the darkness within him. The bachelor's coat was a brilliant, burnished gold, and his features were softer than most stallions' - almost effeminate, in fact. It was laughable to consider that this delicate-looking creature was the chosen ruler of the Lagoon - but where Rade lacked in brute strength and barbarism, he compensated with charisma and a cunning mind. And ambition. The palomino had plans, and now that the first of them had fallen into place, he could proceed to the next.

As if he had followed the strands of these errand thoughts, a golden colt came abruptly upon the stallion, nearly stumbling over his prone figure as he called out for someone in his bright voice. Rade had risen reflexively, lurching upright with his teeth bared, and was a half-second from grabbing hold of one small ear to give it a painful twist when his glare met the too-familiar set of eyes that stared back at him. He hesitated, then satisfied himself with snapping at the air between them instead - a warning he would have given to another man's child. Apparently Sicily had been allowing his son to run wild, with no apparent purpose or direction. This would not be allowed to continue for much longer.

“Ah, Sicily. I was certain I would have to hunt you down after your last unceremonious goodbye.” Rade said smoothly, addressing one of the forest's many shifting shadows. There was a definite note of irritation in his voice - he hadn't appreciated her abrupt departure during their last conversation - and something else. A note of authority that demanded respect, and warned Sicily that she should tread more carefully around him now that he was the Lagoon's leader. “Am I to understand that this-” a gesture of his head indicated the child - “is the reason you have made yourself so scarce?”


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