Can Zjeena be blamed for thinking she was unwelcome? The way she's been treated since her return taught her that Liland is not the stallion she once thought he was. He can be intensely jealous, and his anger didn't seem to abate, even with every attempt to talk him down, and time to cool off in between. He holds onto his resentment, and his jealousy, with a vice grip. There are whispers through the herd that Zjeena is a traitor, that she was seduced by Rougaru and turned on the Bay. Liland has made it abundantly clear that Rougaru is an enemy. By choosing to return to Rougaru, Zjeena too, should become an enemy.

Without speaking such things plainly, Zjeena assumes, that by choosing Rougaru, she chooses to leave her life in the Bay behind. When Liland said that Zjeena, and only Zjeena, may leave, it was clear to her that Nattergal and Havelle would remain in the Bay, and a part of the life she leaves behind.

Nattergal may not know every detail of what transpired between his parents, but he has seen enough to know that what happened is not Rougaru's fault. Zjeena was thrilled to return to Liland, and to the Bay. She explained how coming home to the Bay would make their family whole again, and how she couldn't wait for them to be reunited with their father. During her time in Paradise, she frequently reminisced about Liland to her children, telling them details about his kind and chivalrous nature, and about how they met in the pouring rain.

It wasn't until they returned to the Bay that things went south. Nattergal isn't stupid. He knows how much Liland's rejection hurt Zjeena. He heard her crying into the darkness on long, sleepless nights. He saw her desperate attempts to mend their relationship. He saw her struggle to maintain composure and continue to lead the herd as if nothing was wrong.

It broke his heart.

Liland's own behavior is what turns Nattergal against him now. Before the colt came to the Bay, he was nothing short of eager to get to know his father. No one in Paradise had ever spoken badly of Liland in front of Nattergal. But the Liland he saw shouting at his mother, avoiding his children, the Liland who sent Bran's mother away, is not at all the father he had hoped for. To say he's disappointed, would be an understatement.

The taste of Liland's fur on his tongue is sweet. His hooves connecting with Liland's side feels like satisfaction. Nattergal spins around and backs into Liland's flank, letting loose a series of kicks. Each one that connects is glorious, but Liland refuses to fight back. Nattergal's rage continues to grow. Why won't he fight back?!