castillon of the prairie.

Castillon wanted to force more weight down on his injured limb the moment Aura’s face scrunched up with guilt, but he couldn’t. Even just attempting it caused his lips to pull into a thin grimace and another swell of irritation bubbled up inside him. It took every bit of concentration he had not to let it reflect across his face, but somehow he managed.

The buckskin stopped before Aura, tilting his head as his dark brown eyes watched her briefly look away from him. I’m so sorry, her sweet voice started, and the sorrow clinging to it made him feel particularly murderous for that damnable Lagoon Boss once more. This is all my fault.

“No.” He hadn’t meant for it to sound angry, but he’d been thinking of how much he loathed Garmr for making her suffer this way and it came out rather loud and firm, too much for the quiet way he’d wanted to share a conversation with her. He sighed a breath of frustration at himself and muttered, “Sorry, I didn’t mean-” then trailed off and looked away, unable to see the sadness on her face and know it was his fault it was there, not hers. If he’d been a better stallion for her… if he had protected her like he promised he would…

“This isn’t your fault,” he tried again and, this time, managed to speak in a softer voice. Even the anger he’d been struggling to fight seemed to slip away, concern instead softening his brow and warming his brown eyes as they looked over her. “This is Garmr’s fault,” he said pointedly, as if the statement could be without argument. “All of the islands know the Prairie is a peaceful place. He’s weak and trying to look strong for his brothers, so he’s decided to pick on the one herd he thinks won’t fight back.” He spat the words out with irritation that he felt, his dark tail flicking briefly before he shifted his weight, careful how he placed his front-left hoof down.

Castillon reached to gently touch his lips to Aura - wherever he could, be it her cheek, neck, or shoulder - and breathed a warm sigh into her skin. He knew the words he was going to say weren’t ones he should utter and knew he had no right to put his authority down over her choice, but Castillon said them anyways, and firmly, too. “You can’t go there alone, Aura. I won’t let you.” He only let there be a brief pause before he said, “if you won’t let me go in your stead, I’m coming with you.”

whoever makes my baby cry is gonna lose some teeth tonight
stallion ∙ mutt ∙ zevulun x riesling ∙ buckskin snowcap ∙ 15.3 hands