Things in the forest had not gone his way.

He’d left the forest empty handed, intercepted by nothing more than a mere colt. He could have seen to the boy and still taken the girl but that would have drawn more attention and he’d already heard the rumble of hooves coming towards them. Fighting off the colt while trying to herd the girl was doable with some difficulty, adding others to the mix made it near impossible.

He left under a cloud of annoyance and anger.

He’d swam back to the crossing, stewing and plotting for days before he finally decided to make another attempt on the buckskin mare in the paradise he’d attempted to steal before the forest girl. He was determined he’d have one of them and it seemed likely the fuss around the paradise mare had died down. The colt was more likely to still be on edge and keeping his women close.

Things in the paradise did not go how he’d planned.

The black stallion had arrived under the cover of darkness, his yellow eyes intent of finding the buckskin but found a palomino on the shore instead; her shiny coat reflecting to moonlight. He was not sure if she was dozing or had just looking out to sea but he quickly covered the distance that had separated them. With pinned ears and flashes of teeth he drove her into the ocean, keeping up the chase until they crossed into the lagoon. "Welcome home" he quipped with an arrogant half smile.