i dream in phosphorescence Posted on February 10, 2025 at 01:02:15 AM by Helios
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He'd had to turn away. The guilt, the shame and fury: it all swarmed to a fever pitch, clawing away at the pillars of the stallion's inner strength. How had he failed so miserably as a father? He couldn't keep them safe. Balefully, Helios turned from his son with a toss of his head to disguise the moment he had needed to compose himself once more.
'...We will swim together.' In a cold shock, the young champagne tore his eyes away from the massive stallion before him. The waves added a cacophonic soundtrack to the moment, capturing the chaos of varying emotions between the three stallions. Mhidas' blue eyes met the dark umber gaze of his sire. Helios was steady again, warm and assuring. This was not goodbye. Not forever.
Then came the movement of heavy hooves shuffling on the sand, bringing them back to the harsh reality of the moment. 'You first. I'll follow and guide.' First father and then son turned their attentions back to Lucifer. The black male stood ready to guide the overo boy back to wherever he had come from. Helios didn't understand the lack of smugness from the draft, the absence of malice and overbearing swagger. He didn't understand, but, for Mhidas, he was grateful his enemy had come quietly.
Mhidas looked at his father one last time before taking the first painstaking step forward. His blue eyes darted away, lips pressing tightly together into a thin line. The two year-old's heart clamored in his chest as he came to the water's edge with Lucifer. Twice now in rapid succession, Helios was unable to do anything to stop Lucifer. He could not refuse the black raider what he'd rightfully won. However, this time... yes, this time he would say something. "You'll be alright, Mhidas," the copper stallion called. "Just-" --the word rasped, catching in his throat-- "just do what he says."
Was he so weak now, this lord of the Dunes, that his only advice to a captive son was to bend the knee? Shame coiled hot in his belly.