Felony had chased and abused the woman until there seemed to be nothing left but a broken being of blood and pain. The stallion had enjoyed every moment of it; the need for more nearly driving him mad with blood lust. It stained his lips, his hooves and his heart as he watched her now as they stood among the muck and mire of the Lagoon. An predatory gleam still glittered in his eyes as they looked out amongst the shadows that surrounded them. Felony knew he would come and was curious as to how his son may react. After all, this was a punishment for Ruger's misbehavior.


It took longer than the painted brute expected for Ruger to show; but he was not disappointed in the expression that his son wore.


It was the scent of blood that had first caught Ruger's attention and the predatory gleam that his father often wore lit his amber eyes. Following the scent, he noticed that it mingled with the stench of his father. A snort pushed its way free of his nostrils, angered that the beast had once again gotten all the fun. But as he stepped free of the shadows and into the small clearing the predatory look quickly faded to be replaced with shock.


"Zimri?!" he croaked out, unable to believe the once beautiful mare was now standing there bloody and beaten. She was his light, his one good thing in life. This could not possibly be happening!


"Glad for you to join us" Felony growled, moving to stand between Ruger and Zimri as he glared at his son. His ears were pinned and his eyes held just as much anger as before even while looking upon his own flesh and blood. "I found this gem running through the commons screaming. Could you possibly know what for?" the boss grinned; the expression twisted with the darkness that clouded his father's heart.


Rachanna instantly filled Ruger's thoughts and he wondered where his daugther was but didn't dare speak her name. "No" he bit out, the shock fading away for a dangerous gleam to appear that reflected Felony's.


"Mmmm" Felony practically growled; sounding more lupine than equine. "You wouldn't dare lie to me, would you Ruger?" he asked as he prowled forward to circle his son, watching his every reaction as Ruger watched him.


"What do you want?" Ruger growled out, tired of his father's games. His own beast was beginning to gnash its fangs against the chains he had placed to hold it back, but they were only so strong and sooner or later he was bound to lash out. It was all in Felony's plan though. How far did he have to push to see his own son's strength?


"Loyalty" Felony snapped out and lashed out just as quickly. His bloodied blunt teeth seizing hold of the flesh along Ruger's neck which caused a squeal of pain and anger to burst free of Ruger's lips. He half reared, his head yanking away to free his skin from his father's merciless grasp. Whirling, he kicked out with a successful thump against his father's chest. Felony bellowed out in rage and whirled so that both stallion's were butt to butt with lashing hind legs. Felony was older and stronger; his frame wider with age that Ruger had yet to gain. He shoved his son forward and finally one of his striking hooves managed to catch the muscle along Ruger's leg that made his scream out in pain.


Lunging forward and out of reach, Ruger whirled back around but Felony was already on him. Rising up, Felony struck out at his son not caring where his blows might land. Ruger rose to meet his father, his teeth finding hold upon the stallion's neck. It blocked the airway which only caused Felony to become more enraged as he couldn't breath. His teeth clamped onto Ruger's ear and gave it a hard twisting yank which caused Ruger to loose his grip as more pain burned within him. Dropping back down, Ruger took a few steps back but that did not earn him any repreive. Felony lunged forward again, this time managed to slam his chest against Ruger's shoulder which caused the younger stallion to loose balance and topple over. The fall was hard and despite the soft squish of mud beneath him, Ruger's breath left him in a grunt. He struggled to get up, but froze as Felony's hoof slammed down only a breath away from Ruger's head. The younger stallion had clearly lost.


"You have much to learn" Felony growled before he stalked off into the shadows to leave Ruger and Zimri in the clearing alone.