Perhaps she would take silent leave, or have some kind of reply. But when she slowly moved over to stand beside him, his gaze watching her from the reflection; Ruger couldn’t help but feel surprised. She even held his eyes in the water, but what came next was the most shocking.
Ruger listened quietly to her story of her childhood and into maturity, how she had pined for this stallion as any young maiden should. In some ways the painted stallion was jealous; at least she had the warmth and innocence in her youth where his had been filled with darkness and abuse to make him stronger. Quickly it changed, the stallion consumed with the darkness Ruger had fought all his life. But that stallion had not won; clearly consumed with it much like his father. If not for some differences, and the fact she had told him the brute’s name, Ruger would have asked if it was Felony who had caused such crimes.
The fire that ignited in her eyes despite the tears staining her face, it gave Ruger hope for the mare. Slowly he turned his head, lightly brushing his lip over her cheek to wipe away the tears there. He felt a desire to be closer to her, to press his flank against hers and to let his muzzle move against the warmth of her flesh beneath her mane. It had nothing to do with the season, but a deep desire he had not realized he had until now. He wanted, no, he needed for someone to understand his pain. To try and help him heal; not to be that rugged stallion everyone typically saw him as. But it wasn’t just for him, he wanted to help her as well.
“You will conquer your fear, Evanescence. I hold no doubt.” Ruger said quietly, his usually gruff tone surprisingly gentle.
.