A strange sort of lethargy had settled over the elegant mare. Summer in Atlantis was suffocating, and even though she knew that she had never looked better, her desire to travel had been hampered by complacency.

It was not that her desire to be taken away from here had lessened. A part of her still craved being taken away by some handsome male that could not live without her. But it was clear that Ailill would not live up to his flirtacious advances, and she'd not yet sought out any others, which meant the prospects for rescue were slim.

And while she would hate to admit it to herself, a part of her was beginng to soften toward the silver bay. There was something about watching him with Drogon that awakened the softest part of her heart, the bits that she refused to acknowledge with her waking mind, but felt all the same. Seeing her pride and joy mimic the handsome king brought her a secret pleasure that she dwelled upon when she dared to let her mind wander.

Not that motherhood was entirely sunshine and roses.

There were definitely parts of it that she hated, and she was in no hurry to tie herself down again any time soon. Being a walking milkbank with a literal tether back to Paradise had felt like a lead weight that she could not shake for much of Drogon's first months. It was only when he was no longer entirely helpless that it had begun to feel enjoyable. Seeing him grow and learn brought a smile to her lips that for once had no ulterior motive.

The real shock was when she realized that she was no longer forever ruling out ever having a child again.

It is a rare moment of shared companionship that Rougaru interrupts, and Vanya turns toward the formidable stallion with a sultry smile spreading across her lips. She had yet to seek out any of the other mares in the sweltering jungle, although she had looked upon the small pony mare and her painted companion from afar. Zjeena did not impress her, but rumors of Monster's temper were widely known and Vanya did not care enough for their opinions to seek them out. It was not their affection that she wanted.

Thankfully, Drogon had proven to be catnip for the silver stallion and Vanya had readily taken advantage of it. Any time she could send the boisterous colt to his surrogate father so that she could take some me-time, she had done so with relish. There were only so many times a mother could weather a play by of the local wildlife before she started to go insane, and Vanya's tolerance was admittedly lower than most.

Drogon, however, held none of his dam's reservation. He had learned much from her, but he hardly cared about how to twist someone to do his bidding when the person in question was the only stallion he really considered his father. Eagerly he turns from the ants he had been following to bound over to Rougaru's side, already ready for the next adventure they were to go on. At Rou's playful censure, however, Drogon launches into a half rear and paws at the air with a scowl of his very own.

"I'm not sleepy!" Shaking his tiny head in defiance the colt bumps his hip against Rougaru's side in playful retaliation for the nip, his curly tail whisking excitedly over his haunches. "You're the sleepy one!"

Vanya watches him quietly, an inscrutable expression in her eyes. It was a strange balance she had struck, no longer comfortable with taunting and teasing Rougaru as she had when it was only the two of them. Drogon was somehow a giant barrier to her desires and a roadmap to things she had not known she wanted.

"I'm sure I could find somewhere to hide that you could not find if I chose." Vanya offered archly, the long wisp of her tail licking about her black stockinged legs. A grin curled onto her lips and she arched the elegant expanse of her neck as she watched her son interact with her King. Not wanting to let the impressive stallion grow too comfortable with her complacency in these past months, she continues to tease him. "I stay for his sake, you know. Not yours."

Stubbornly she remains in place, steadfastly refusing to close the distance between them. As much as she appreciated his assistance with Drogon, she still resented her place in Paradise. Months of being delegated to little more than a pretty trophy on his shelf as one among many had not overly endeared the mare the continued existence in Paradise.

That didn't mean she wouldn't enjoy the eye candy while she was here though. A sultry smile spread across her lips as she visibly traced the contours of Rougaru's body, well aware of how close they were to the changing of seasons.