Exhaustion is clear on the face of his beautiful queen. Despite the fire in her soul, she trembled with the struggle that brought the fiery little colt into this world. Worry creased his brow as hurriedly he moved to stand at her side, offering the solid weight of his frame for her to lean should she wish it. The loss of Zjeena had hurt, but as he promised her all those years ago, he did not try to stop her when she murmured her wish to venture beyond the realm of the islands. He knew that the loss of her foals and the hatred that Liland had forced upon her still weighed her down, all these years later. She had become a recluse of sorts, hiding behind the dense green branches and only emerging on occasion. He hated seeing her this way, missed the spirited yet stoic demeanor that she had once moved through the jungles with. Slowly he watched Zjeena disappear and thus when finally she did tell him of her decision, he finds himself not entirely surprised. It ached, watching her disappear into the ocean. It hurt not knowing if ever he would see her beautiful face again and yet Monster remained. Ever at his side, ever the flame that breathed life into the wolf, she was his rock and his salvation.

Seeing her now, the pain and weariness… he worried that she too might slip beyond his grasp. The wolf whines beneath the confines of his breast, its golden eyes bright with fear. To lose her too, it would be his undoing.

Yet even in her exhaustion, she manages to find the flame. The small smirk on her lips as she responds brings a relieved sigh from his chest. Tenderly he lips at her forelock, brushing his whiskered lips across the velvet soft hairs of her cheek. ”Of course… nothing less.” he murmurs, pleasure licking at his heels as he turns his gaze once more to his new son. Alpha she called him, a name befitting the spirited little colt that stomped his tiny hooves at her side. A warm smile spreads across his lips as his dark multi-faceted eyes watch the boy withdraw to fix him with his attention. Bravely he moves towards Rougaru, unabashed by the muscular stallion’s size and height. Curiously he bumps his tiny milk-stained muzzle against Rougaru’s leg and the wolf lets a rumble of amusement escape his lips. Thickly muscled neck arches as the stallion dips his head to ruffle the colt’s forelock affectionately. ”Alpha is a very fitting name indeed.” he adds, blinking warmly at the small boy.

Once more he turns his gaze to Monster, keen eyes trailing the fine curve and contours of her elegant features. ”How are you?” he asks, touching her lips to his again, the contact electric to his soul. Zjeena had been as much a lover to himself as she had been to Monster. Oftentimes, he almost felt jealous of the affection that blanketed the two mares. He was lucky in that aspect, there was never any hatred or hard emotions between the two mares. However, like himself, he knew Monster felt the weight of her loss. He could not help but wonder if her absence was a part of the weariness that tugged his fierce viper now.