Rougaru is intrigued by the pretty little queen. Despite her small exterior, there was something about her silent, stoic demeanor that made her appear even taller than he. She held herself with a sense of regal surety that very few managed to maintain. Despite her initial displease at being forced to join him, he at least was beginning to believe that perhaps he was making headway in the area of learning what makes her tick.

As he had hoped, his question about the foals names seemed to draw at least a fw more words from behind those silent lips. He keeps a single darkly colored ear tilted towards her as they continued down the winding pathway. Here and there he gave pause, letting her pass unhindered when one of the many large canopied trees made the path narrow. He was not about to ruin these few moments by crowding her. He didn't exactly think it would go over well.

She mentions a brother, and Rougaru nods in acknowledgement, letting the words play through his mind. He had a brother out there, somewhere in this wide world. A sister too. But they were not so easily remembered to him. Father had kept him close, trained him from such a young age that he hardly ever saw either of them. He had often wondered time and again, if they played together as foals should do, he wondered now at their names for they remained like a fog at the back of his mind, lingering just behind the veil of mists. Like mother. His sister... he could not remember her name now, but remembered that she looked like mother's mirror image. His brother, well that was just a fuzzy memory. It was not long after his birth that Rougaru had left anyway. Her words, and the depth of emotion that lay behind the names gives the wolf a chill which ruffles the thick gray hairs of its pelt. She had adored her brother, adored him in a way that Rougaru did not ever think possible. How it much feel to love your family? Though he tried, the concept of love was still foreign to his way of thinking.

His lips turn upwards into a smile as he nods his head in acknowledgement. "They are foreign to my tongue, but strong names. Worthy of such fine children." he adds, flashing her a rougish grin.

But there was another thought upon her mind, one that his words seemed to have drawn up. Though it is brief and quickly hidden, he does not miss the distain upon her lips. For a moment the confusion flashes before his own multifaceted eyes, but as she shakes her head and continues on with the conversation, remarking about how the foals would enjoy spending time playing with Noctis and Beowulf... he decides to let it go. Clearly she was not in the mood to discuss it and he would not press her. He was not exactly willing to talk about his own family either.

Her quipped voice brings his head up. Dials flex backwards for a mere moment before perking alert amid the cream and caramel tendrils of his mane. Clearly his concern had offended her. Odd but well that was what he should expect from the stoic queen. She had made it quite clear that she could care for herself and her own offspring. Perhaps that was why her relationship with Liland worked so well. Biting back that last little thought propositioned by the wolf, Rougaru stretches his neck forward to bump his muzzle against her shoulder in a sort of comradery. "I meant no offense little Queen... simply... concerned." he says giving his own head a shake, a light hearted chuckle leaving his lips. "You have managed quite a bit as of late, surely a swim from one island to the next could not be your undoing." he finishes, emerald eyes glittering playfully.

Her eyes roll at his mention of the desert and Rougaru can feel the wolf perk with interest. He knew that she held no pleasure for the desert herd, hell he had not been pleased himself with the island, hence part of the reason he had left to return to the mainlands in search of better pickings. While he had found it, still the islands called to him... but never once was the island of Salem upon his mind. Being of draftier breeding himself, Rougaru could only imagine her displeasure at having to leave a place such as the bay for the polar opposite that was the deserts. An amused chuckle rumbles from his lungs as the coffee colored stallion smirked, "I was never a fan of the desert either. While Atlantis is far from the cold permafrost that is the Bay, its heat is far more manageable and the greenery makes up for it in my books." While he did not necessarily enjoy the cold, he could see her pleasure in it. She was built to fit into the unforgiving climate perfectly.

Before he can even begin to remark further, she continues on, as though she were suddenly finding it easier to fall into casual conversation with him. A cheshire grin spread upon his lips as he offered her an almost shy glance. "Zjeena, to be perfectly honest, because you are his weakness. I had hoped that by taking you and his foals that the foolish stallion would bend to me. It was he who disrespected me in the meadows and dared to call me out in front of a pretty face. I am a proud stallion... such disrespect is punishable in the eyes of my lineage." he states, his tone rather matter of fact as he pauses now, his emerald eyes gazing down upon the small herd grazing contently in an open clearing. A single dial flickers as he lets his mind ponder upon these thoughts. Thinking back, perhaps he should have thought twice about such actions but well, was it not the ways of stallions? Was it not important to fight and battle with relentless persecution in hopes that their bloodlines were the ones that would forever prevail and leave hoofprints upon the sands for future generations to follow?

"Liland took it personally. Had he simply been patient. Perhaps I would have released you to him, my point made... but then he dared to take my viper. Call it petty but well I feel as though you are wasted with him now. Such brash actions are foolish." he says, pausing now to fix her with an even glance. For some reason he felt a sense of ease in talking with her. He felt as though he could be matter of fact, as though he did not need to tiptoe around her feelings for fear of setting her off. "Tell me, what is it about him that draws you to him? Do you miss him? Or is it Tinuvel that calls to your heart?"