Ignacio had failed. He'd tried his best to keep the Harbor safe. To keep the herd safe. But he hadn't been good enough. The black stallion had come from nowhere, and despite Ignacio's attempts, the Harbor had been taken. He'd lingered on the edges, biding his time, in hopes Arroyo would come home and they could run off the stranger together. But another stallion appeared, and the black stallion's reign ended. It was at that point, when the Harbor began to grow fuller that Ignacio made his leave. He didn't want to, couldn't, leave Atlantis. It had become his home and he could not imagine any other place.
He was grazing quietly where the Shore, Paradise, and the Harbor met. It was here he was able to feign allegiance to any of the herds should he be caught and it was here that he had lingered. His coat was scratched and gnarled in places, fresh cuts across his speckles, from forcing himself through brush and thorn alike to hide when necessary.
Arroyo's back, one of the passing horses said and Ignacio's head flew up. Where? someone prodded and Ignacio slunk closer, almost tripping over a fallen log. He's in the Ridge.
And he was gone.
Ignacio leaped into a gallop, leaving over tree and plant alike in a mad dash up the border between the Shore and the Harbor. He paid no mind to the surprised expressions of horses he passed and ignored anyone who called out to him. They mattered little to him in that moment. He finally reached the Ridge's jungle, allowing himself to slow to a trot to ease his aching muscles.
"Arroyo?" he called, hoping his mentor (and friend, he hoped) would not be disappointed in him. He didn't know if he could bare it if Arroyo turned him away, but he needed to be here. Arroyo had been the first to ever take a chance on him, to have faith in him and he did not intend to squander that. |
| KHAJIIT X SWITCH | 15.1HH | BLACK SABINO | THE WILDS | KIWI |
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