to live and burn is
the most exquisite form of self destruction

Cullen. It was a name that Rade with a strange combination of cold, ashen guilt and warm pride. The boy's existence was one that should never have been - and yet in the days of his youth, he'd been the roan's most promising scion. As the silence of the Lagoon seemed to suffocate him, however, Rade was forced to concede that the very qualities he'd admired in Cherish's foal had been those which had often thwarted him. The impetuous behavior, the violent tendencies. It was only by reigning these parts of himself in and using the shrewdness of his mind as his first weapon that Lagoon's prior boss had begun to make something of the brotherhood.

And when it came to such cleverness, it was Leon and Fiero who had always eclipsed Cullen.

Before he could seek more information from his dutiful son, a too-familiar dark figure dragged itself into view. There was a time that the words Felony hurled at him would have hurt Rade; would have sent him into a familiar downward spiral that could only be satisfied by the shedding of blood. But he has grown since, and the invective rolls off him like drops of water in the midst of a storm. He had known there would be a reckoning of sorts from the moment he'd witnessed the destitution of this place - for who would willingly take the blame that they could instead seek to push off on another? Rade had accepted his part in this ruin and was prepared to do his part in reversing it. Apparently, those who had remained behind found it more productive to point fingers.

"I wasn't aware that I'd left behind a bunch of suckling foals who needed constant coddling," the palomino roan said coldly, favoring Felony with only a passing glance. For the most part his eyes remained on Fiero, whom he was determined would not depart without at least giving an abridged version of the tale. "The boy here has an excuse - I did not provide him the wisdom and support he needed when younger. I failed him, as I failed Cullen. But you - you failed them all as well and do not even have the excuse of absence. You skulked about here while the world fell to pieces, and then would blame me for being gone?" Rade snorted, the sound sharp and sardonic in the air. "For my part of the blame, I accept it. I left, and I did not see to it that matters of regency were placed into competent hands. I had too much trust in those of you who remained behind. But that does not make me liable for your failures as well as my own."

His piece spoken, the burnished stallion turned his full focus back on Fiero, the cold planes of his expression softening. It hurt as much to know that he'd failed this boy as it did to know that the one he'd held in highest regard had fallen so far from grace. "I did not come to punish anyone, Fiero, or to take what the mantle that I willingly surrendered. I came for my family, as I left for them too. And I offer penance in payment for what you have suffered in my absence. If you feel that the Lagoon is without faults, I will withdraw myself from this place and allow things to continue as they have. But if you dream of restoring it and bringing it new purpose, I would work beside you on these goals." Rade was trying to make it clear that the decision - and the power - still rested with those who had remained. Whatever authority he'd once held here had been willingly surrendered long ago; only with their blessing would he pursue the trappings of a leader once again.

"It is your choice, as your generation will be the one to live with the repercussions. Would you have peace and prosperity - or this?"

stallion . twenty-one . palomino roan . mustang mix . 15.1hh
debonaire x neassa