Ironclad,

The defeat at the hands of Valka yet again had reopened the wound in the beast’s soul that had never quite healed. His pride. How such a small mare could learn to become so vicious and so spirited was beyond him. He could all but sit on her to squash the life from her beating heart and still he felt certain that she would pop back to life the moment his mass lifted from her back. He had left her in peace for years, left her to the cold and ice of Tinuvel and not once had she crossed his mind save for an occasional glance into the past. Now, now she threw herself on his doorsteps with demands that he knew he must obey. To an extent.

The wolf’s plans were so much better than any that he had pondered over and deep down, he kicked himself in the ass for not being the one to come up with the idea first. He should have, and yet. Looking upon Drogon now, that familiar ache warmed his heart. Of all his children, especially those of his own blood, it was the boy that he shared no bond ties with that he looked to the most. Even from his earliest days, Rougaru saw something special in the boy. He may be plain in appearance but not in the wolf’s eyes. Not to his adopted sire.

Drogon straights as the mahogany stallion approaches, obediently falling into step alongside Rougaru’s strong shoulder. He does not probe the wolf for answers, does not question the results that still stung as fresh as the welts that marked his shoulder and hip. There was no need. Rougaru enjoyed the time that was spent with Drogon even if not many words were passed between them. As of late, there had been circumstances that prevented him from enjoying the boy’s companionship on patrol or sharing wisdom as they lounged in the sheltering shadows of palms during the hottest parts of the day. Since Vanya’s return to Paradise, he had noticed tension in Drogon and the hard manner in which he stared at his mother. Rougaru felt the distance between them growing but he must make peace, if not for his own sake but for his family and to keep his claim on Drogon secure. With Vanya at his side, there would be no protests. Especially with what he had planned.

As if the boy read into his mind, he breaks the silence that had built itself between them as they crossed the sheltered path that wound its way back towards the beach. Dark ears tilt backwards as a single fierce green eye glances over at Drogon in silence for a moment. A smile tugs at the corners of his lips as the wolf within him purs in satisfaction. A hearty chuckle rumbles from his throat as Rougaru reaches for his protege with a hearty bump of his muzzle against his shoulder. ”I have no doubt that you could, my son.” he murmurs, his tone warm.

For a moment longer he lets silence fall between them again, letting his mind drift to the words that the wolf beckoned him to speak. All around them the jungle came to life, the monkeys and lemurs howling through the high branches, raining down green leaves and broken twigs in the process. Insects buzzed from the trees and underbrush, silencing suddenly as the horses passed over them. Colorful birds flitted from tree to tree as the stallions passed, their feathers iridescent in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the dense canopy above. A heavy sigh escaped the chocolate stallion’s lips as ahead, the roar of the ocean drifted louder and louder. ”I actually wanted to talk with you. Wanted you to know why it is that I brought your mother back as queen.” he begins, pausing a moment before beginning again. ”You are my son, that will never change. I see myself in you, I see the same drive and the same ambition. It might not be easy but it was never easy for me either in the beginning.” he speaks, earnesty in his words as his emerald gaze stares into the eyes of his companion. ”You grow stronger by the day and with each passing day, earn more of my trust and my respect.” he breathes. More so than his other children, as hard a reality as that might be.

He straightens now, lifting his chin proudly to gaze towards the beach before them. ”Valka wants a child of mine, no doubt to try and conform to her ways and turn against me. I, on the other hand, see this as an opportunity and one that I trust no other than you for this task.” he continues, pausing a moment as a sly smile curves across his lips. ”I want you to go as the son of mine you are. I want you to use what tricks you have learned and what ways you have to undermine her. I want you to earn her trust and turn her herd against her if you can. Cause her peaceful life discord, and teach her what it is to face an angry wolf.” he murmurs, his tones darkening with malice and anger