Meadow

Talya’s alive. His daughter was alive. The only thing to ever cling close enough for Psychedelic to care about was alive. The revelation was shocking enough for Psychedelic to tuck his chin back to his chest, snapping away the closeness he’d pressed on Aurora. He blinked and spoke aloud through his thoughts. “That’s… no, that’s impossible… - that fuck - Shamwari, he charged… Talya jumped between us…” Psychedelic’s eyes snapped to Aurora but only to see if she would give away a sign she was lying. She didn’t, of course. She was too sweet to lie. Her fear was practically a tangible thing, it was so thick, and though it made his heartbeat race in excitement and anticipation, he couldn’t focus on it.

He shook his head as if dazed. “No. No. I saw Talya go down – she collided with Shamwari when he charged to attack me. She fell, there was a horrible crack… like her neck broke or her head… and she was still… she just laid there. She was dead!”

His hoof stomped firmly against the ground and he tossed his head in irritation. At himself, at the world… even Psychedelic didn’t know which it was. For a drawn-out moment he stared at Aurora whose whole body was tense, and who wore her fear of him as if it were a second skin. Hard to believe just a year ago the pair of them were on far different terms.

It occurred to him then while Aurora had seen his true self, she didn’t know the stallion she was dealing with.

“So, Talya is alive.” He sighed, nodding to himself as he accepted this information, and started to walk. Slowly, almost lazily, he walked circles around Aurora, figuring out his thoughts before he spoke again. “You know, Aurora, we were never properly introduced. I’m sorry for that, but I’ve made a lot of enemies on these islands and I knew my real name couldn’t be spoken unless… well, see what happened once it was? They came to kill me and damn near killed my daughter instead.” He blew out a breath of air and shook his head, stopping near her again, tilting his head as he observed her.

“My name isn’t Bob, darling, and I’ve never been that sorry sap you thought you befriended.” He nearly sneered. “The name’s Psychedelic. It’s good to meet you… well,” he chuckled, eyeballing the swell of her pregnant belly. “Again, I guess.”

A cruel smile stretched up his lips and he veered closer, invading her personal space, suffocating her with his scent. “I’m not done with you yet… and I’m not going to be for some time. You'd best get used to this handsome mug.” He reached and slipped his whiskered lips over her cheek, smiling dastardly as he did so.