Why did he leave? Such a loaded question, Ruger did not think the entire length of the night would be enough time to explain everything that made him leave. A heavy sigh escaped him, head lowering a bit as his ears pinned briefly before pushing forward again. The stallion hated to even think about it, but in some ways, he felt as if he owed Cherish for the things that had happened between them. Here they stood and there was no hate in his daughter’s eyes while there was so many reasons there should be. Starting with the reason she was even in existence.


“Too much of my past lingers there.” He replied at last. “The memories….So long as Cullen resides there, the darkness of my heritage will not be allowed to die.” Ruger explained in the best words that he could. But it was like his words brought up her own memories as Cherish brought up another point about her son. She was hiding from him as well. The news brought a small humor filled smirk before a short chuckle escaped him; the sound a deep rumble. “You have nothing to fret over.” He reassured. “If I was to betray your location, I would have to come out of hiding too.” Ruger explained. As far as he knew, Cullen was none the wiser to where he was. Or else he would expect the Lagoon Boss to come calling for another chance at a colt.


As the painted stallion looked to Clarity though, he felt an awkward stir shift inside him. He had never been good at asking things; not really taught how honestly. His whole life he had been shown to demand and take, but never request or give a choice. Finding the right words, or rather even starting the question took a few long hesitant moments, but finally Ruger managed to push out the words from his mouth on what he was thinking. “I would like to be a father, not a sire.” He said, golden eyes looking to Cherish with unease now since he wasn’t familiar with this sort of situation. “I know you owe me no such favors, but I’m trying to change my life from what I was created to be, and I would like to get to know you better too. If only just friends, since we do share a child.”
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