If Dogun had been expecting the Lagoon's leader to react to his theoretical acceptance of the trade, he would be disappointed. Rade's face remained fixed in its emotionless mask, showing neither the gladness nor the gloating that might be expected. To the roan stallion, this was strictly business - and emotions had no place in a transaction. It did not seem that his male companion felt the same, however; although the grullo had agreed readily enough, Rade's sharp ears had caught the sigh that preceded that statement. The palomino didn't understand the strange attachment some stallions seemed to have to their progeny, especially the colts that they had sired. They didn't stay children forever - sooner or later, they would have to leave the nest, and learn to fly. Or rather, learn to fight.

And where better to learn what it meant to be a man than as a member of the bachelor herd?

“Only two,” Rade responded to the question, his golden eyes following the pony king's gaze to the sabino roan mare. “First, he must be weaned - there aren't many teats to suck on in the Lagoon.” There were none, in fact - but even if Fatale had still been nursing their daughter, no stranger's son would be raised beside Rogue like a brother. Inhaling another frigid breath, Rade continued. “And second, he must be healthy. A bachelor herd is no place for a cripple or an invalid.” Like Felony, or his blind son Mikhail. But that was a different matter entirely - Styrke's son had proven his worth before the fall that had broken his leg. And Mikhail was a child of the Lagoon - he would always have a place amongst them, even if it was at the bottom of the figurative chain.

“He need not even be of your own blood,” Rade clarified after a pause. “Many stallions find the Lagoon a...convenient place to send their women's bastards.” And as it turned out, such children made the best recruits. Knowing that they had no place in their parents' world, they surrendered themselves to the brotherhood without the tiresome struggles and tears of those who had known love.

“If you need time, then I will give you until mid-day to speak with your herd and reach a decision,” the palomino roan offered. As a fellow father, he understood the lasting impact Dogun's decision would leave on his family - perhaps better than the grullo himself did. It was no easy feat for a mother to let go of her child, especially before their time had come. Rade remembered how the tears had traced a silent path down his own dam's cheeks when he'd followed Debonaire into the sea. He had not seen Neassa since that day - and every detail of her face now lay buried beneath the sands of time.

But, unlike Dogun, he felt no regret for the decision he'd made.


stallion // mongrel // 15.1hh // 10 // palomino roan // reba
debonaire x neassa