Rehoboam's absence was not ideal, but Celestine wasn't initially worried. She has been alone most of her life, and taking care of herself has never been an issue. Even spending her days in the Lagoon with the grullo stallion was a choice; Celestine never would have heeded his claim in the Commons if she had not wanted to follow him. When he was taken by the silver bay mare, Celestine was far more irritated than she was genuinely upset. She had assumed that he would find a way to return, and if he did not make his way back in a timely manner (according to Celestine's own schedule, of course) then she would go and bring him back herself.

Nothing ever goes according to plan, of course.

Rarely do Celestine's emotions ever elevate beyond amused irritation, and this... wrench, so to speak, is no exception. She knows as soon as she catches the eye of the unfamiliar grey beast that he is trouble. Orphiel makes a valiant effort to stave him off, but by the end of it, Cel is not the least bit surprised that he has been beat. The silver bay mare who had taken Rehoboam had done a number on the dun stallion, and even in full health Orphiel was likely no match for the magnificent grey. Celestine observes the battle with resigned amusement - it would have gone better if she had simply fought for herself, she thinks.

But she hadn't, and she allows herself to be driven away by the grey, juggling a combination of curiosity, annoyance, and excitement. This may put her plans to collect Rehoboam on hold for a bit, but the draft mare is more or less unconcerned. Rehoboam is the worrier; Celestine does what she wants, and remains stubbornly unbothered. She maintains the conviction that she could likely leave the grey whenever she wants, or at the very least give him a run for his money if the two were to fight. She does not fear him, and so she goes willingly into the sea, throwing a few spirited bucks at the brute along the way, just for fun.






The moment they reach the warm, inviting sands of Atlantis, her captor moves away. Celestine eyes him with a scowl and tilted ears, willing to let him think she's more upset than she actually is, for now. Her heavy alabaster tail lashes against her flanks, sodden and stinging on her skin, but she decides not to keep up the act. He had put on a good performance in the Lagoon, and Celestine cannot deny her appreciation of a good show of strength, even if Orphiel was not the most challenging opponent. Her ears cup forward, and her expression loses its scowl, slipping once again into the soft smile of someone amused by their peers' mistakes.

“That was quite a feat,” she purrs after a few moments of silence as the two observe each other. “Don't let it get to your head; that boy you fought was beaten by a mare half his size just a month ago.” She takes a slow step towards the grey, like a cat after an unsuspecting bird. “Are we shy? You would tell me the name of my new... King, won't you?” Celestine drawls the words, her tone thoughtful as she seems to have to dig the term King from deep memory, her blue eyes sparking mischievously when she finally catches the title in her teeth and offers it casually to the grey.