Koray

Ruling the desert, as was his birth right, was something Koray had eagerly anticipated for as long as he could remember. He had daydreamed often of engaging his father in battle for leadership, especially ever since Orhan had cast him out to find his own way in the world. Though he and his sire had butted heads often and had developed something of an uneasy relationship, they had never come to blows: yet. But the idea of throwing his weight against Orhan and physically dominating him had always excited him. He'd never had the courage to act on his desires, but ever since he had returned to his family it had been there, in the back of his mind, like a wild card that he might pull out at any minute.

Thus it was with elation, but also with some mingling feelings of deflation, that Koray received his new role as leader of the desert - or, as his father put it, "temporary guardian". He had not liked how Orhan had stressed the word temporary, as though he knew that Koray would reluctantly give up his role upon Orhan's return. What Orhan did not know was that Koray did not plan on giving it up at all. Hopefully, when his sire returned and saw how well he had taken care of their home, he would step aside and continue to let Koray run things. Koray had every intention of proving that he was capable, and that he could do an even better job than Orhan did; for starters, he wouldn't go losing any more herd members. Under his keen eye, no one would leave at all without his permission.

If Orhan could not see reason when he returned, well... perhaps then they might have the brawl that Koray had both feared and eagerly awaited.

In the meantime, the young stallion would turn his attentions to Vita Nova. He was not stupid; he knew she had preferred his father's company to his own (who could blame her?), and now with Orhan and half the rest of the herd gone, Koray saw her as a potential flight risk. He had taken measures to ensure that Oswin would not return and attempt to lure Vita Nova away, but that meant nothing if he could not make the mare believe that it was in her best interests to stay with him. Thus he finally approached her one day, emerging through the foliage to stand near her at the water's edge.

Since Orhan had left, Koray had begun to carry himself differently, with a relaxed, almost entitled air, and he had a haughty look in his green eyes as he looked down at Vita Nova now. She had a wary look about her, and it was then he realized that she probably had no idea where Orhan had gone, or why Koray was now in charge. Did she think he had finally ousted his father? The idea almost made him smirk, but instead he rumbled a low greeting to the mare, and lowered his head to drink casually from the oasis. He remained silent deliberately, as though nothing were amiss; he would let her be the first to break the silence, so that he could better judge what frame of mind she was in.