Orochi watched sternly as the colt seemed to hesitate over his decision of how close to come. He was glad to see that the boy was wary of him – although Orochi had no reason to harm him just yet, he preferred his acquaintances not to grow too comfortable with him. Those who became too relaxed in his presence were liable to take liberties, he had found.

Although his expression remained impassive, Orochi listened to Léon’s words carefully. A band of bachelors then. The concept was not unfamiliar to Orochi, although he had never experienced it himself – all of the herds in his birth home had been much the same as his own, and thus he was not welcome there.

Solitude had been his companion for the past few years.

He moved his head ever so slightly in the smallest of nods, the only acknowledgement Orochi gave that he had been truly listening to Léon’s words. The lack of mares did not upset him – if anything, at least Nami would be unwelcome here should she find out where he had gone. And if there were islands for the herds to live on, he would not be headed there. He had not yearned for that lifestyle for a long time. He had not yearned for anything, in fact.

“Something like that,” he replied bluntly in answer to the boy’s question. Not wanting to discuss that place any further, however, he forced himself to move the conversation elsewhere. “I’m Orochi.”

He spat the name, as if tasted bad in his mouth. It did, of course – it always had. They had named him in their spite of course, and though it held no good memories for him it had stuck. He could hardly rename himself anyway.

“So you let anyone stay here?” he asked, his rough voice flat despite the question in his words.

OROCHI
and the worry cracks a fracture from your hip to your chest