There is no denying the hostility that radiates from her co-drappa as she finally joins the party, but that was hardly unexpected. She'd enjoyed Rougaru's undivided attention after the loss of Zjeena and likely did not take well to Rougaru exercising his own ability to make decisions without consulting her first. She seemed to enjoy pretending as though she held all the strings, banking on her fierce reputation to keep the herd in line.

Vanya was bored of it.

She did not need to know the painted mare intimately to mark her as both a competitor and a viper, unworthy of her trust (not that the ballerina knew how to truly trust anyway). They had been at odds ever since Vanya had seen the way Rougaru looked at her in the first few weeks of her capture... and it wasn't her fault that Monster was just realizing now how much she had underestimated her competition.

Thankfully, Monster's petty little snort as she began her speech did not remove Rougaru's gaze from her frame, or wipe away his proud smile, or distract Vanya from her mission. When the coarse tobiano mare began her own little speech, Vaya opted to take the high road with a sweet smile of her own that was nonetheless dripping with malice. She could feel the weight of the new silver-haired mare on her skin, but did not break under the added pressure. Despite the compassion she had proclaimed, Vanya did nothing for the sake of pity.

If helping Nyimara did not come with the possibility to further ensuring Rougaru's favor, she likely would not have bothered. Gentleness was only a tool, and it was certainly not the most used in Vanya's arsenal.

Her gaze remained on Monster as she spoke, and she repressed the urge to roll her eyes at the predictability of it. In Vanya's (admittedly limited) experience, acting hastily was always a way to invite mistakes. If you didn't pause to consider every aspect of a scenario, you were all but asking for accidents to happen. Although, if she were honest, spurring Rougaru into immediate action was precisely how she managed to sway him more often than not. While she did wholeheartedly believe in Rougaru's ability to claim and hold the kingship of Atlantis, and to rain hellfire down upon those that had betrayed them, she also was intimately familiar with what happened when his inner wolf took over.

He took bigger risks. Grabbed with both hands open, heedless of the need to save himself from falling if he stumbled. The wolf - once his sights were set on something - did not change targets until the threat was wiped out, even if other dangers came in from the sides. With the sheer brutality that her silver-haired stallion could wield, it rarely seemed to be a problem. More a benefit, really, as far as the petite mare was concerned… but it could cost them dearly if they weren't careful.

Monster's blind push toward immediate violence was expected, and foolish. Racing in now would put them all in danger if for some reason their king was unable to succeed, but Vanya's need to be right was less than her need to provide a strong front for their herd. She was uniquely aware that her position as queen relied heavily on Rougaru's adoration of her, but she also knew that having the support of the herd would not go amiss either. Drawing attention to the rift between herself and Monster would only force the herd to choose a side, and Vanya was not yet secure enough to be sure of victory if it came down to that.

Rougaru stepped forward then, drawing everyone's eye and Vanya favored him with a slow-spreading smile simmering with pride and appreciation. She would never grow tired of watching Rougaru in his element; there was something sexy about seeing his determination and anger that had always gotten under her skin, no matter how much she had tried to deny it in the past. They may be toxic together, but they had their own kind of magic too.

He spoke of Faolain, and Vanya nodded her agreement. She'd not had the misfortune of dealing directly with the black mare of the Ridge, but she'd heard of the child that Rivaini birthed, and how he had lost an eye at a relatively young age while under her care. She knew little else of the mare, but any ally who willingly crossed against the Paradisian King was bound to pay a steep price.

"Yes," she echoed, her gaze narrowing thoughtfully in the wake of his proclamation. She had already offered her piece, and it was up to Rougaru to command the pieces of his army into action. Vanya could not take to the battlefield (nor would she, unless there was no other choice) but she was well versed in using words and tricks to her advantage. Rougaru need only to point her in the direction he wished and she would do everything she could to make his dream (and hers, of course) come to fruition.

"We will follow where you lead," she reaffirmed, with a smile that spread across her lips. She would see Rougaru's star rise in the sky, if only to be towed along in the wake of his glory. Nyimara spoke again and Vanya's gaze rose back to her with a firm nod, her gaze shrewd as she took in the grieving woman. Now that retribution had been promised, she saw the glimmers of strength in the woman's features that promised that she could either be a good ally… or a dangerous adversary. And while Vanya was loathed to admit it… she certainly needed friends here.