The buckskin mare’s ears leaned forward expectantly, not quite sure what she was going to hear. He was silent for a moment before he finally spoke. He sounded different and truth be told, he looked different too. They had both grown and changed. He ears swivel with uncertainty. ”Lyden….” she began softly, trailing off because she wasn’t sure how she could respond to that or even fully understand what it meant. Was he here for her to talk, or was he here to be with her? The latter was a pipe dream. The forest was her home and so long as her sire held it, Lyden could not have her. Oaf had his second and Jörmungandr would not leave her home.

Silence passed, and then he spoke again.

Asp had not remained for long after Lyden was forced out of the forest and he could have returned. Jörmungandr had often wondered why he did not and now, perhaps was her chance to find out. He spoke of everything falling apart and she thought back to those days – Azazel, Hickere, Dickere and Dock had disappeared, Caesisus had left and Asp had driven Lyden from the forest, not to mention her own predicament of breeding with Felony when everything had overwhelmed her. Lyden echoed her thoughts, and her ears flicked back briefly – did he blame her?

She stayed silent as he continued, processing it all as calmly as she was capable. After a moment, she let out a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding. ”Love is a fickle thing Lyden and it so rarely does us any good, in fact, it seems to me, it is more trouble than it is worth.” If he had not loved Caesisus, there would have been less heartache amongst the herd and less trouble amongst the band stallions and lagoon. If he had not loved Jörmungandr, would have run away so readily when thing got hard?