The beast yearned for her. Long nights of patrolling the narrow island trails left him wandering through his memories. Time and again he found the wolf whimpering into the dark nights, its yellow eyes seeking the horizon were far from view he had last seen her disappear beyond the cresting waves. He had faith that she and the twins made the return to Tinuvel, he knew her to be a hardy mare, stubborn and determined. It was qualities that he had come to find endearing about her. He knew it would take more than a long swim and equally stubborn stallion to stop her.


But that did not stop his mind from wandering.


Night and night again he found her in his thoughts. How had her return gone? Was Liland treating her well? Was she happy? Did she miss their long strolls along the shores of gently lapping waves? While he could probably grow comfortable in time on Tinuvel, he knew that it would never be his home. Not like the jungle. But what could he do? Was there anything else that he might have said that would have changed her mind on the matter? Deep down he knew that there was not, but still, that did not keep his mind and the beast from wondering. A softness tugged upon his features now as he met her gaze, there was a warmth there, a shared moment that belied the passions and revelation that had overwhelmed him the night that finally their relationship had broken beyond kindred spirits. Her response is quiet, soft spoken as he knew her to be. However, nonetheless it is the strength of her words that lighten his stone heart and cause the beast to rumble a soft purr. She missed him. Never had he truly expected to hear the words fall from her lips. Sure he had hope of course, but the beast refused to allow him to ever believe it possible. Now he was sure that there was not a chance that she would ever leave the Bay she so loved to return to Atlantis with him, but still… he had to see her.


He does his best to lighten the rising storm of emotions that threaten to throw them both over the edge of sanity. His proud expression gives way to an amused smirk, but even that disappears without a trace as she replies with lackluster tones. Unreadable emotions cloud her bright vision and cause his to darken. Tension builds beneath his skin as tentatively he reaches to lip at her cheek. ”What is wrong Zjeena? What can I do?” the words are quiet spoken, but steadfast. He meant them. Like his precious viper, Zjeena, his snow queen, he would fight for her happiness no matter the cause. His whiskered lips once more brush against the thick cream colored fur of her cheek, savoring the warm perfume that he had long been without. He takes another step towards her, ready to once more press his strong form against her own in comfort and reassurance when the sounds of approaching hoof beats and the strong musk of testosterone drift towards him.


Liland.


The wolf growls, its gray fur rising to the challenge but Rougaru keeps it chained back, burying the angry yellow eyes deep beneath his emerald pools. Raven tipped ears flicker lazily atop his skullcap as reluctantly he draws himself back, proud head lifted as multifaceted gaze blinks nonchalantly at Liland’s angrily approaching form. The smaller stallion snorts, his ears pinned tightly to his own skull as he forces himself between Rougaru and Zjeena. Not wanting to upset Zjeena, especially in her current demeanor, Rougaru obliges the pale stallion and takes a step backwards to put some distance between himself and the duo. Anger rises beneath his skin. For a moment Rougaru imagines that it steam could be seen rising above his chocolate flesh as muscles tense. Jaws clench behind closed lips as the island king presses his lips together in a tight line. Liland would forever be his enemy.


Mockery glitters in his eyes as he meets the Bay stallion’s hard gaze with one of his own. A mischievous smirk plays upon ashen lips as Rougaru gives his skin a shudder, unsettling the dusting of snow that had settled across his rump and shoulders. ”Come now Liland, show some civility.” he purrs flicking the thick tangle of cream and caramel tendrils of his tail. He shifts his gaze to Zjeena as the pale stallion continues to speak, his commandments more of a prison sentence than the life meant for a queen. The thoughts brought his lips curling upwards, fighting back the urge to lunge for his throat and end it all here and now. He would not let Liland see the internal struggle he faced. He would not upset Zjeena.


Shoulders roll as the chocolate colored stallion snorts, doing his best to conceal the snicker that threatens to break past his lips as Liland begins to rant once more about what he was denied. Rougaru fights back the urge to roll his eyes but instead turns his gaze back to Zjeena, searching her dark eyes for the answer to the question he had not spoken aloud. Was she happy. Liland stomps a forelimb, his ears pinned back beneath the salt and pepper mop of his mane as he glares up at Rougaru. Despite himself Rougaru lets out a laugh. Multifaceted eyes fix Liland with a cold glare, the beast within him bristling with anger. "You expect me to give you something? Expect me to bend to your wishes and desires just like that?" he scoffs, thick cream colored tail flicking audibly against muscular haunches. A single brow raises as a smirk ghosts across his lips. "I think not Liland. I think not." he murmurs, his graveled tones strained against the force to remain collected and cool. Thick hooves propel him forward his gaze suddenly growing soft, longing even as he sidles past Liland and stretches his whiskered lips forward to press tenderly against the soft cream of Zjeena's neck. "You have everything." he whispers, emerald eyes closing as he fights off the sudden rise of sorrow that overcomes him. Over and over again the moment replays in his mind, over and over he wonders what he could have said that would have made her stay. He had told himself he would not grow attached to her and yet here was, his heart of ice and snow branded by the Bay queen. He turns his gaze to Liland now, gaze hardening. "You live in the past, so much that you darken your future. I owe you nothing Liland." he adds with a hard snort, his gaze turning back to Zjeena as once more he reaches for her, tenderly bumping his muzzle against her chest. What lay between them, though unspoken for the most part, was so much more than an unborn child. He saw beyond her crown... beyond the figure she had created for herself and saw who she was. Likewise he felt fairly certain that she saw him for what he was, that she did not despise him for the words spoken by others, but that she valued who he was. "Know this Liland. You may have loved her first, but I will always treasure her. I want what she wants and will see to it that happens... for her. Zjeena..." he breathes forcing himself to withdraw his lips from her skin and take a step back. For a moment the sorrow glitters there, bright and clear for her eyes and hers alone. "If he hurts you, if you are not happy... you know I will be here... that I lov..." he chokes back, clearing his throat and giving his proud head a toss, forcing the words back. He would not make this harder for her. Instead he meets the eyes of the queen in her, forcing away the turmoil of emotions that have not settle since the day she and the twins left his shores. "Warsaw has declared war upon Luthien. He has long been my ally and friend so Atlantis will join at his side. I hope that the battle will not come here but I thought you should know what is coming." he says doing his best to keep the words of longing from parting his lips.