The painted man trudged through the familiar land. His previous time in the islands, Dakotah had never once set foot into the Lagoon, only saw from afar or from stories. He never thought much of being a Lagoon man and had planned to take back the land that was once his, but life had other plans. The large claw marks that laid fresh on his shoulder that caused the limp and his usual confident stroll was evident of that. His nostrils flared as he struggled to breathe, slowly making his way towards the lagoon that gave this shithole its name. Once finally reaching the bank, he laid down. He didn’t even see the cougar coming and he blamed that wretched witch for it. Having consumed his thoughts ever since she left his side, he hadn’t been himself lately.

’She will definitely pay for this one,’ he thought as let his body rest. Dakotah turned his head to look at his injury. It had finally stopped bleeding, his pelt stained with his dried blood, standing out drastically against his black and white fur. He snorted at the sight. He was in no shape to claim the Inlet as his once more and he shuddered with anger. What was the point of claiming a land if he could not protect anyone from predators, even himself? The Lagoon was the best option at this point and he hoped the bastards here did not make it hard for him to be accepted. The last thing he wanted right now was a fight, but Dakotah would defend himself if it became necessary. ’I probably look like a pathetic mare laying down like this,’ he thought as he forced himself to stand, feeling his legs shake a bit underneath him. He really wasn’t in the mood to hear shit from anyone and honestly dared someone to come at him in an aggressive way.

Once gaining his footing, the splattered stallion decided to clean his wound in the water, hopefully removing the dried blood in the process. He slowly edged himself in the cooling liquid, his teeth grinding together as it swallowed his aching shoulder, the pain seeping through him; after a few moments it subsided, and it began to soothe him. Dakotah could not bring himself to take a short swim and merely stood in the water before bringing himself out feeling much better. Reaching the bank, Dakotah shook himself free of liquid droplets. He perked his ears forward, blue orbs scanning the area as he calmly waited to see what beast would be greeting him.