The painted boy snorted loudly, giving his large head a shake, resettling the multi-colored forelock over his broad brow. Dark eyes of golden hue gleam against the dappled sunlight that shifted and swayed with the passing breeze. Agitation prickled his silver bay and white skin. Despite his victory out the jungle cat, father still did not believe he was old enough to join him on his travels to the islands beyond Paradise’s borders. While he now supported a few new scars still pink with healing, he had the black cat on the run, at least until father appeared. The great stallion had been less than pleased that Lougaru had chosen to attack the cat instead of calling out for backup as Rougaru had told him, but his yellow-eyed son merely saw it as proof that he was ready. Father, well he did not.

Ears fold backwards into the wind-knotted mantle of his mane as the young stallion steps easily over an upturned root in his path. A renewed flare of anger caused him to knock his back hoof against the woody bark, sending a chipped piece skittering into the elephant ear plants. Dad just did not understand. Loupgaru could have defeated that bothersome cat without his interference. He could defend the herd against marauders and snakes alike. Father just did not want to see it. He coddled them, he coddled them all and Loupgaru was not going to be coddled any longer. Caramel tipped tail snaps audibly against his muscular flanks as the young stallion charges down the path leading onto the beach. He would show him, he would show them all that he was ready to lead. His mind was set, his heart made up.

That is, until he sees mother.

If there was ever anyone to soothe his anger, and make him feel ashamed when the need ever arise, it was her. She was his guiding light in a world of insanity and the only one who he could talk to without feeling like a pouting child. Lately, she had been tied close by Alpha, the rambunctious red colt seemed to always keep her on her toes. It worked for him, for the most part because his brother left him with more freedom from the rules and guidelines set up by their parents. It was not until now that he realized how much he missed being the center of her world though.

No doubt if he had merely backed back into the shadows of the jungle, Monster would have completely missed him. Despite the distance that separated them, Lougaru does not miss the longing in her brown and blue eyes or the sag of her shoulders as she gazed out across the vast ocean, oblivious to the ocean breeze that gave life to the ends of her mane and tail. For a moment he watches her with a mixture of both awe and confusion. His mother had always been the lead mare, at least from what he had ever known. There was another, Akela’s mother Zjeena, but it was rare that he had ever seen her. Father said that one day he would tell him why she was the recluse Loupgaru knew her as, but now that she was gone, he did not doubt that the story would remain a mystery. Monster was queen of Paradise and guided and protected the herd with fierce yet gentle claws. She was quick to comfort a tearful foal and equally as swift at distributing justice to any that disturbed the peace. He himself had been victim to more than one reprimanding nip on the ears.

However, looking at her now, he could not just disappear into the shadow. She had been more withdrawn as of late, and he needed to know why.

Like a small foal he plods towards her, his feathered hooves shuffling through the white sands until he is at her side. Ash dusted muzzle trails along her sleek side, inhaling a deep breath of her familiar scent. ”Momma?” he begins, his voice trailing a bit as his golden gaze searches her own. ”Are you okay?”
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