Nattergal knows his parents spoke little after their return to the herd. Any words exchanged were bitter and heated. The whole herd could hear them shouting, could feel the tension between them. The Bay had turned cold and it wasn't just the weather.

Nattergal could see how much his mother wanted to mend their relationship. Her approach was not to follow Liland around, provoking his anger with more conversations to nowhere. She tried to mend their relationship by proving her loyalty. She kept her head down. She continued to be an active member of the herd, to patrol, and forage, and tend to the foals, as any responsible lead mare should. As unhappy as she was about it, she respected Liland's wishes not to leave the island without an escort. She was a model prisoner, and it wasn't enough.

Liland remained angry. His position was firm. Zjeena was not to be trusted. She was not to leave the island without permission and an escort. She kept her title, but none of the power. Her sentence appeared to be a life sentence. She didn't seek Rougaru out that day when he turned up on the shores of the bay, but can she be blamed for being tempted by his call? Rougaru had become a dear friend, and in letting her go while Liland would hold her captive, Rougaru became a symbol of the freedom she longed for. Liland chased Zjeena into the embrace of Rougaru with the harshness of his words, the firmness of his rule, and the coldness of his shoulder.

Nattergal was raised by his mother. He stood by her side through all that she endured, so he is sympathetic to her cause. Nattergal is upset to be separated from her, but the longer he thinks about everything, about how unhappy they've all been since coming to the Bay, Nattergal is actually glad one of them could get away. If she isn't here, then his mother has a chance at happiness.

Nattergal only has the stamina to express so much rage all at once. Several furious kicks later, and Nattergal is both winded and frustrated. Liland only snorts, a response that sinks Nattergal's heart like an anchor. How little he must care. He won't fight back, put Nattergal in his place, or show how upset he is at this whole situation too. The calm way in which Liland accepts Nattergal's abuse leave the colt reeling in disbelief. This is the perfect opportunity for Liland to step up and be a father, to show some sympathy, or teach a lesson, but he does neither. He avoids the onslaught of emotions coming from Nattergal, just as he has avoided Nattergal for all of his life thus far.

How is this the knight in shining armor his mother once told them of? There's no way. This stallion is an empty husk, the walking shell of what once must have been someone worth loving.

Nattergal is panting when he turns to face his father again. The colt stares at the stallion for a moment, his eyes both defiant and full of pain. Then without a word, he turns on his heel and strides away across the sand.