As soon as Khyber departs for his “patrols” of the islands, Khar’pern takes the opportunity to slink away from the little glen he had left her in. The chains of control still shackling her to this place rub raw at her heels; nearly as raw as the bruises and scrapes that decorate her dappled rose coat. While her first coupling with the white splattered stallion had been more out of need than anything else, this last encounter…. Well, even she isn’t quite sure how she feels about it. She doesn’t want to think about it. Khyber was as infuriating as he was attractive and that very thought alone went against everything she had ever been taught.

However, even she cannot deny the ghost of a smile that draws at her thin lips as the memories of passion and fury flash through her thoughts. The scent of his musky sweat still clung to her mud-splattered coat, and despite herself, she was in no real hurry to wash it off. There was something almost comforting about the scent of him with her even when he is not. At the very least, it afforded her protection against the other mutts in the lagoon. Khyber apparently held some position of authority by the way that the others seemed to retreat as she passed by. ’So there IS some loyalty among the dogs… interesting.’

Mentally, she makes a note of this as she glares at yet another stallion shuffling out of her path. Only when the pale form disappears beyond her sight does she continue, letting her thoughts begin to wander to the growing flutters in her belly. Flutters she recognized. The flurry of events had borne fruit. Whether she wanted to admit it or not (and by the gods she would not speak the words to Khyber), she was indeed carrying a sibling to her daughter in her belly. Her eyes roll as she imagines the cocky smirk plastered on Khyber’s face. She could hear him crowing even now. ’Told you so.’ What exactly could she say to that? Best damn believe she would find herself a comeback for when he returned.

Even though this last season is the most she has ever spent with a single stallion, it is enough for her to know that he would not leave his little ‘trinkets’ unattended for long. However, when he did return, she would have an equally biting response to his insanely attractive, cocky, and proud comments about her swelling barrel.

It is these thoughts that consume her, causing her to completely forget to watch where she is going. Not until she nearly rams headlong into the spotted stallion.

Paper-thin nostrils flare as agitation flashes in her silvery eyes. ”HEY!” she snaps, raven-tipped ears disappearing beneath the thick mantle of her obsidian forelock. It was her fault, really, but she was not about to admit it to a lagoon mutt. Finely dished muzzle lifts defiantly as the little rose-dappled mare bares her teeth threateningly, ”Watch where you are going!” she snarls, her long dark tail lashing against her hips. At least for the moment, she has found an outlet for her frustrations.

Khar'pern

The jungle is dark but full of diamonds;