Falls

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

Rade had been gifted with a natural charisma since his birth, but time had taught him to listen as well as he spoke. It had been one of the few lessons from his sire that he’d taken to heart - that more could often be learned in silence than in speech. And indeed, this Bondurant had given him much to consider; more than he would have expected from a creature whose appearance gave the deceptive impression of a mindless soldier. Having fixated himself on the toll the war had taken on the islands, the roan stallion had not paused to consider the effects it might have on the family units who made their homes there. But it made sense that they would be even more reluctant to part with one another given the uncertainty and dangers perceived in the outside world.

The golden stallion eyed his companion with a newfound respect, no longer seeing him as a subordinate whose loyalty and strength could be easily won, but as a potential partner. And a valuable one. The spotted male went on to indicate that force alone would not be enough to persuade the herds. They would need to believe that what the Vulcans and bachelors proposed was for the best - and that there was benefit in such an arrangement for them. And while Rade had no interest whatsoever in inserting himself into their politics, perhaps the promise of peace with the Lagoon and the Peak would be enough. If not, then those kingdoms who both defied them and poisoned the isles with their senseless acts of violence would be systematically targeted and dismantled.

It was one thing to vie and steal amongst one another. It was quite another to take lives for no reason other than to try and push their beliefs upon another. The former Rade could condone - it was the way of their kind, after all. But the latter… when an act gave the former Boss pause, that in itself spoke for its abhorrence.

“I did, and like any they perked their ears up at the sound of change but dug their heels in when they realized it would require effort on their part.” A snort and a roll of his yellow eyes were all the burnished stallion needed to show his opinion on the matter. Of course they would welcome having such power handed over to them with no effort on their own part - but Rade was no fool. If the Lagoon went in on this alone, the best that the Peak could hope for out of the arrangement would be a truce. Let them see how well they could outlive change. “At best, I have an… agreement with their Codebreaker. She alone was invested enough to offer her assistance, but without the weight of her sisters behind her… well, the odds are grim. But I have no intention of backing down regardless. As soon as I have the support of enough men, my first move will be to make a stand against the Lagoon’s current leader. I would sooner be taken down in battle than die cowering in some hidden corner of the Crossing.”

And if it was a fight that this inevitably came to, Rade could be certain enough of his fate. Even with his thoughts as poisoned by anger as they had become, the old palomino was no kinslayer - and if Cullen was anything like the stallion he’d once been, he would fight with everything that he was until either his enemies were destroyed, or he himself was. And so Rade would be killed. It was strange how he did not flinch from the possibility as he once had - all the time in his youth that he’d acted invulnerable, invincible, death had been his greatest fear.

Now? He only feared that the deeds he would be remembered for were those he’d sooner have forgotten.

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