Liland has taken so much more than her body. Zjeena once was a filly naive and full of romantic visions. Love for her brother led her to reject the ways of the coven, and embrace a life among stallions, but the more of this world she experiences, the more she realizes, her mother was right. Circe was right. Stallions are primitive creatures, driven by selfish force.
The likes of Liland are what her mother raised her to avoid. He uses those around him to bolster his own pride and spread his seed. He wants power. He wants notoriety. He wants control. All he's done since their first rainy encounter is manipulate and control her. He used Zjeena's honesty, and her loyalty against her. She agreed to things she never should have agreed to. She let him make her feel guilty for following her heart and for doing the right things for their herd. All of that ends today.
Perhaps what has shaken her the most is that there was a time where Zjeena really did love and trust Liland. He made such a fool of her. It was easy to do it to a young mare with stars in her eyes, so eager to see the good in everyone, but now he has Zjeena doubting every truth she ever thought she knew. What's real and what's not? Is Rougaru for real, or is he just using her like Liland did?
Her sides heave, releasing the heat of her emotions. A cool rain rolls off her back, and pools in the churned earth at her feet. Steam rises from her hide like a smoking gun. The names of their family roll of Rougaru's tongue, and Zjeena shakes her head, throwing water from her chin. No. Today is not about them. Her whole life has been about everyone else.
Fuck everyone else.
Her ears lay flat against her neck and she presses forward. Her head is low and neck outstretched to drive the stallion away. Rougaru is so much larger than she, but Zjeena has never feared the wolf. The hardness of her stare could bite harder than any tooth. Each step is an effort to free her legs from the muck, but her muscles work under slick, rain-dampened skin, and propel her forward. Bared teeth snap at Rougaru's flesh. The intention is not to bite, but to pressure him to move.
Zjeena won't be pushed around anymore. Let Rougaru know. Let Liland know. Let everyone know, every choice she makes now will be her own. She's done being a tool. The tables have turned. Zjeena bares her teeth and it's clear, Rougaru isn't the only wolf in horse's skin.