Rougaru has never felt any fear of Zjeena. For her, well that is a different matter altogether. The changing seasons weighed heavily upon his soul for some time. The wolf wanted nothing more than to charge across the expanse of sea and simply rip the throat from Liland's body. Gladly he would leave the mongrel stallion's bloodied carcass to be picked apart by the canivores of the Bay... but that would not make Zjeena happy. He would not risk her unhappiness. If there ever was a mare who would lay her life and happiness on the line for her offspring, it was Zjeena. She would not risk the twin's heartache, even if their father deserved it.

Rustling of nearby leaves draw his ears forward amid the mass of thick tumbling mane. A warm smile plays upon his lips as the familiar tawny mare appears, her dark eyes heavy despite the warmth of her greeting. "Mama!" Akela squeals, bounding towards her with energetic hopping steps. "You missed it. I caught daddy real good. Did you see him? I knocked him right over!" he bubbles on his growing tail wagging excitedly behind him.

Rougaru chuckles warmly, his own emerald green eyes glittering as he ambles slowly towards his pretty queen. "Mind your mother Akela... perhaps you would mind searching for a nice mango for us. There should be some ready on those trees near the beach." he murmurs nudging the young colt's smokey rump gently. It was a clear ploy to get him to leave them a moment in quiet conversation Akela knew but nonetheless he obediently charged off down the winding path. Only when the quiet clip of his hooves disappear does Rougaru turn back to Zjeena now, his emerald green eyes gleaming in the dappled daylight.

" Zjeena..." he breathes, his voice thick with the swell of emotions that surge to the surface everytime his eyes fell upon her. Tenderly he stretches his whiskered lips towards her, tracing the fine curves of her delicate cheek, inhaling the thick scent of the jungle foliage that clung to her skin. He failed her. She would be off to the Bay soon, the damned gray stallion determined to plant his seed into her fertile womb once more. As though she were a mere vessel for his purebred offspring and nothing more. "I'm... I'm sorry." he chocks, the weight of the words unspoken heavy between them. He breathes in her sweet perfume, the feathery soft ends of her mane tickling the whiskers along his lips. "What can I do?" he asks, his voice thick with question.