These past six months have been stressful for Tarek and it shows. A once-youthful face is lined with age, and so many restless days and nights spent pacing and not eating have left him looking thin. Without Hannah to groom him he is dirty and disheveled. His mane is twisted in dreadlocks with twigs and leaves caught in the mess. A chunk of tail hair trails behind him, no longer attached by the root, but held on by a knot. These past few days have been even worse. He worries about Evren now, venturing into enemy territory to retrieve Hannah. He hopes Shamwari is enough to back her up should something happen during their quest. If he loses both his mate and his aunt to Warsaw he might not handle the grief.

Tarek has stood sentry since Evren left, but he's getting awfully tired. Indira left him to go on patrol, so now he stands in the shade of the forest, alone, and it's so quiet. He feels his eyelids drooping, and as his head falls he startles himself awake. No, he has to hear them coming. He has to be there when Hannah comes back....

Indira wanders the trails of the forest. Her ears turn searching for any sounds that might betray and enemy intruder or predator on the prowl. She takes her task to help protect the forest seriously. Her son needs the help. He's been looking worse for the wear and her mother's heart aches for him.

Her second sweep of the perimeter has almost found nothing until she hears a disturbance to her left. The painted mare stops and slows her breathing, listening with intent through the trees. Then she hears their voices. It's Evren, returned from Tinuvel! Indira sets off at a trot, weaving gracefully through the tress and stepping lightly through the undergrowth until she comes upon the gathering.

Indira doesn't intend to be rude, but she can't help it. She rushes past Persephone and Hannah to greet her sister. "Evren, you're back! Did everything go alright?" She doesn't wait for an answer before she starts searching Evren for injuries. Partway thought the search, she comes to the realization that Tarek isn't here. Indira stops and lifts her head "Tarek's not here."

Her mouth is agape with worry for a moment, but soon curves into a grin. Indira looks between them and confesses. "I think I know why. Come with me, quietly." Indira leads the way, weaving a path through well-worn trails. They don't have to travel far before they can hear his snores. Just around the bend they find his sleeping form. The young stallion is lying in a disheveled heap at the base of a tree. His legs are tucked under him, and his chin resting on the ground. His head tilts a little sideways, and his jaw juts off to the side. His mouth is slightly open and a steady stream of drool muddies the ground under his cheek.

Indira stifles a chuckle as her eyes drift to Hannah. She'll let Hannah do the honors of waking Tarek.