He has disappeared within himself. He has disappeared deep into the shadows and recesses of the jungle. Not even the happy sounds of foals and their mothers can draw him from his darkness. It is empty; despite the warmth and the humidity that wraps itself thickly around him. He turns his face away from Sól.

A soft voice whispers on the breeze. Her words are beautiful, a sweet melody to his fuzzy ears. He swivels his thick crown and squints. "Who's there?" he croaks, his words broken and rough. The soft voice continues to whisper, she beckons him from the shadows - from his own darkness. He steps gingerly forward, ears rotate atop his crown in a quick staccato, and his breath is held in his throat. He squints against the bright sunlight as he steps into its brilliant light. He shakes out his gnarled knotted mane and slaps his thick tail across white splashed sides.

Something is off.

He can feel the strangeness in the air - it is still as if it holds its breath. He raises his crown on his thick neck and a familiar cry echoes through out the Ridge, his heart stutters in his chest. Siobhan He pushes himself into a ground-consuming trot, each stride pumps blood through his body and adrenaline into his veins. He has hid himself away for far too long.

He does not slow until he sees the vibrant red coat of Siobhan, the intruder and Ailill; only then does he slow his pace. Ears waver just above the muscle and sinew of his crest and his glacial eyes narrow coldly on the woman just as her words leave her lips. I would not ask you to leave. He parts his lips to speak when Ailill's voice splits the still air. He asks to stay under his protection. Brave soul.

Björn pushes himself from the jungle foliage and into the clearing, his crown raises higher on his muscular neck. "I won't ask why you are here. It is plainly lain out before me," he eyes the woman and lets his words fill the space between them. "This is my kingdom. I have been absent recently but have returned. You may leave, unless we can come to an agreement that we both can agree on."