ooc: timeline for this thread is different from the posted dates!! This is a backdated thread that takes place at the tail end of spring, May ‘24, right before Nahawi came to the Lagoon to fetch Peyote to the Shore. Predates this prior thread: link here

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Make him pay…
...from the inside.

The words rang through his head and, though they were likely not exactly to what the boss had asked of Peyote they were of the same vain. He nodded firmly, feeling the anger fester and bubble up in his gut… not because he cared about being snatched away by a herd leader, the snake allowed to curl up in the nest… but because of what he had built for himself here in the Lagoon the past year.

Surely his brothers had noticed they hardly ever saw the mud monster of the Lagoon. He stopped slipping off to islands and harassing herds. The Marauder had all but disappeared, tucked deep into the swamplands. If anyone came too close, he’d come charging out of the underbrush and relentlessly attack until they decided it wasn’t worth investigating. Even now, though he could surely ask the boss for a favor to keep his new world here, Peyote kept quiet.

He only had a little time before Nahawi would be escorting him to the Shore. He blew a hard snort and picked his knees up higher, splashing somewhat chaotically, even slipping once or twice and scrambling himself up, until he came all but charging into their little clearing he kept peaceful. Peyote stormed quickly up the waters and onto the rise of dry land, making straight for Vervain and their daughter with an energy like he had not exuded in some time.

He had become rather peaceful and happy here…

But now there was wild panic in his eyes. He snorted at her as he stopped in front of her, stirring her hair. His front right hoof stomped hard down onto the ground, making a small groove into the soft dirt. “Take Velaris,” he said, “go to the Prairie.”

He wished he had time to escort them there himself, but he didn’t. Couldn’t.

He looked desperately at her. It wasn’t a look he’d ever shown her because it wasn’t one Peyote was familiar with wearing.

He was afraid.

“Go.”