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

One tattered ear twisted toward the sound of the dark boy’s voice, unraveling the meaning of his words with a flicker of pity that he did not express outwardly. No weakness. Instead, he listened with an impassive expression to the revelation that this colt was as much a prisoner as a recruit, amber eyes never breaking their steady gaze. While it was true that Rade had been known to barter with mares for sons in his first term as Boss, he no longer believed it to be the most productive or successful of tactics in order to swell the Lagoon’s numbers. Such dealings had only served to solidify the islands’ views on the bachelor herd, which had in turn forced them to resort to more desperate measures, which perpetuated the cycle of the herd’s steady demise.

He hoped to reverse this decay in what time he had left. To reconstruct his home as a place where stallions of all walks came willingly. But the bright palomino could not hope to hold onto the power that would allow him to do so without the support of the other men. And this support was likely to falter if he was found to be releasing the prizes they’d paid for in sweat and blood. Shifting his limbs and flicking both ears forward, Rade knew that this boy would need to remain, whether his presence here was willing or not.

But perhaps he might be the last of his kind. And perhaps...perhaps his presence here might serve a different purpose than what Cullen had undoubtedly envisioned.

“Carbon,” the old male repeated musingly, tasting the name on his dark lips. “My name is Rade. And I’m afraid that I’m not familiar with this Cain whom you claim ties to, nor the exact terms of this challenge. As you may have already concluded, there have been...changes to the Lagoon since it was originally issued.” He paused here, dusted hide twitching to shoo an insect that dared to land briefly atop his flank. “But nevertheless, I will uphold what was determined prior to the election. If you were claimed as the spoils of a brother’s victory— well, surely you can understand my position on the matter.”

In the silence that followed his pronouncement, Rade observed the boy’s pride with amusement and the faintest hint of appreciation. He didn’t need to know this Cain to surmise that the stallion would be far more valuable as an ally than as an enemy— if he truly hoped to tear the foundations of the Lagoon down and build it anew. And what better way to begin than by calling upon the unbreakable bond between a father and his son? “Tell me what you know about this place,” the Boss spoke abruptly, slender figure listing subtly toward the boy. He had to hear, he had to know.

What did they say of the so-called kingdom that Cullen’s actions had wrought— and could the damage that he had inflicted be repaired by the efforts of a single generation?

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