Ashteroth stands upon one of the many ledges of her home. Ears firmly pinned against her poll as her thick tail snaps from one flank to the other as she glared down the mountainside to the swamp in the distance. The Lagoon had finally managed to snag the once Prime Minister, something she had thought impossible. To Ash, Khar’pern was bigger than the Lagoon. Or any other enemy they had to face. This truth, this reality slapping her in the face, along with her mentor’s choice in taking care of Ryvar had left the Codebreaker reeling. Had she done something wrong, for Khar to not have entrusted her the child while she was temporarily away?


Shaking her head, the painted mare looked inward towards the Peak territory. Ears finally lifting, she thought she could hear voices on the breeze not far away. Perhaps a distraction amongst the members that were still here would help her cope with what was going on. With a sigh of resignation, she turned and made her way over what might have once been treacherous terrain, until she had made it to a more secure trail. Following it, she eventually spied the filly up ahead along with the stallion she had forced to be here.


A strange sort of sensation twisted in her chest. Was it guilt that caused her heart to do a weird thumping, or something else? It made Ashteroth to pause, watching as the two interacted before the filly jogged off leaving the black stallion standing there alone. The codebreaker did feel bad that she had not interacted with him anymore after dragging him here. It was only because of her petty whim that he was stuck here. Soon, he would be suffering winter, and she could already see that he wouldn’t have a thick enough coat to be comfortable. Maybe she should just let him go?


Swallowing back her mixed feelings so that she wore a neutral expression, Ashteroth strode over to Gecko with a low nicker to announce herself. “You’re good with young horses.” she said, glancing in the direction Marceline’s daughter had disappeared, before her blue eyes locked on to the stallion again. “Do you have any of your own?”




ASHTEROTH