“Looking for me is a strange way of seeking space.” Ruger replied, though he gave a small bob of his head in agreement to her words of turmoil within the Inlet. Though he had not heard of the change in leadership, the tension in the air was thick. He too had come here seeking refuge; a chance to breath. But breathing was a bit difficult at the moment, her sweet perfume of the season filling his nares. Ruger felt that inner demon stir in his chest; it had not lifted its head in so long, the painted stallion had thought it dead. It nearly hurt now where once it had been exhilarating.
Turning away from the mare, he tipped his head so he could look up at the cascading water. Focusing on it for a moment allowed him to reign in that beast, to chain it down once more so that the flighty woman would not be spooked by what lurked inside. But rather than look at her, when he moved his gaze it was only to the pool at the base of the falls. His wolfish eyes seemed to always bother her when he looked at her; he had noticed the way she tensed and would hold her breath each time.
“When I first saw you, she was so heavy on my mind.” Ruger said, his words a bit strained. “Zimri; she was a blue roan and just like you she was so scared. I…. was in such a dark place, my soul black. But she brought me light. I was able to see more than just the evilness I had been born into. We healed each other, we had a daughter…… but…… My father is a wolf in horse’s flesh and devoured any chance I had at happiness.” The painted stallion frowned heavily then, his shoulders tense as he dropped his head lower and briefly laced his dark ears into his mane. “I never had any intentions of hurting you, Evanescence. Though I understand some things of the past linger too strongly to chase away.”
Hurting; Ruger was truly hurting. It was an open wound he had never shared with anyone before. The stallion didn’t know why he was sharing it now either, especially with a mare he barely even knew. A mare that didn’t even live with him anymore. Perhaps it was because it was the very thoughts that had kept him up the entire night. Or maybe it was because Ruger felt she was hurting too and that’s what kept her fear so strong. Either way, he didn’t expect anything from her for his admittance.
.