Falls

His question hung heavy in the air around them, its importance obvious to both men as Rade’s full attention snapped back to him. The two stallions held each other’s gaze steadily, the vagabond patient as he watched the emotions tumbling around in those golden eyes. Though the question was straight forward the answer would either solidify the Andalusian’s resolve to join his crusade or make this meeting nothing more than polite conversation between two men past their prime when they parted. He needed to be sure that the former Boss wasn’t on some misguided mission to reclaim his youth and recreate the past. He knew first hand how dangerous living in the past could be, and even if his own reactions had been very different the results he was sure would be no less disastrous. Not everyone was as prone to being consumed by the past as he was however and after all had been said he figured he owed Rade a chance to prove they were different in this regard at least.

When the slender stallion finally responded, his words sure and steady Bondurant felt himself release a breath he did not know he had been holding. It seemed as if a weight lifted off the future and a path opened up before his hooves even as he nodded his heavy head in agreement with such sentiment. Had they not earned a respite in their old age, and yet this entire conversation was proof enough that neither was ready to truly lay down just yet. That was the heart of Rade’s entire plan was it not? To equip the next generation to be better than they had been and let them retire in peace. “How right you are, brother. All we have at the end of the day is whatever legacy we leave behind.” Yet that was not necessarily the easiest road to travel, which is what led to his question about the state of the other men within the Lagoon… or perhaps more correctly the Peak at this point.

Rade’s evaluation of them was near what he would expect, the stallions were drawn to the Lagoon for its promise of freedom to do as they please. Being drafted into a war and ultimately made prisoners of their single greatest nemesis would cloud their opinion of any leader no doubt. Politics in the Lagoon were often tumultuous in the best of times, only the strongest of mind and will able to corral the unruly bunch into cohesive action but that respect could be lost just as quickly. “Knowin’ that they stand together will give them courage.” He agreed, pausing however as Rade continued to speak. His next words caused the spotted stallions head to raise slightly, slight alarm playing in the jade depths of his gaze as he weighed the complications that this fact could bring into the plan. Even though the other stallion seemed resolute in his plans, assured that the familial bond the two shared would not hinder his actions but rather drove them.

Bondurant however had a different regard to family, and great familiarity with how it could so easily complicate situations. It was his final statement though, about his life in trade for a Vulcan’s that caused his mottled face to tilt in curiosity and concern. “It seems there is much more to this story.” He drawls slowly, all that he has been presented with to consider swimming around his mind over and over. Yet one thing seemed clear, he had decided to accompany Rade on whatever crusade he was planning to solidify a better future even if they were not around to see it. He rolls his shoulders, his large hooves adjusting as he sought to pacify his aching joints which protested but eventually he groaned and instead stepped forward with a shaky of his dark mane. “My daughter has decided she wants to be a Vulcan, I filled her head with too many stories of those mares in her youth. I don’t want her pulled into some misguided war that has nothin’ to do with her. I’ll help you in whatever way I can.” He steps forward again, alongside the golden stallion now looking down as his refined features with many questions just behind his dark lips. “Walk with me? It sounds like I need to be caught up on things and we have much to discuss.” The future awaited, after all.