Khar'pern
His snort of diression does not go unnoticed. For perhaps the first time in her life, Khar forces herself to remain silent if only to accomplish her goal. It was clear that not much was going to be accomplished if they both continued down the path they were headed. More than likely, they would both end up hot and sweaty again and she had already bested him today, no need to risk it and lose all she had gained in this venture. Instead her finely chiseled crown jerks towards him, gaze of hard diamond shooting daggers into his with the promise of unsaid curses and threats. Obsidian whipcord lashes audibly against the supple curve of her hip as the muscles tense beneath her dappled flesh, at war with the urge to lash out against him and continue with her goal. The latter wins out… for the moment anyway.
’Enjoy it while it lasts..’ the deep tenor of his voice is low and enticing in a manner that revitalizes her adrenaline and quickens her heartbeat. Like a juicy, ripe apple danging just out of reach, he taunts her with the game that they both determine to play with no holdbacks. A cocky smirk ghosts across her ashen lips as she lifts her chin a bit higher. ”I intend to.” she bites back, stomping a hoof at him before jerking her head towards the well-worn path ahead of them.
For a moment silence linger between them, the sound cut only by the sound of hard stone beneath their hooves as they climb steadily high along the winding pathway. When he does manage a reply to her words, the scoffing laughter in her voice is real as she too turns her fierce gaze to meet his blazing gaze. Raven-tipped ears snap backwards, disappearing beneath the thick wind-knotted tangle of her salt and pepper forelock that tumbles in untamed rivulets down the sides of her neck. ”Did YOU put any consideration into THAT particular point when you sent Snapdragon running for the hills last year?” the venom in her voice as real as the pain she felt back then, the pain she had wanted him to feel. Khar has no doubt that it would appear as nothing more than a mere tit-for-tat act with him, (which is not far from the truth) but she did have ulterior motives. Their general was dead, their boss…. Well, let’s just say Khar’pern had no desire to face off against the thicker set stallion unless the odds were in her favor. That left Khyber as the last resort and first choice to attempt a reasonable conversation with. If only she remembered how easily he managed to get beneath her skin.
She forces her gaze away from him again, ”We are getting off topic…” she murmurs, her tone devoid of emotion as she starts walking again. ”I figured since you are here, you might as well meet your son.” her words waver for a moment as she chokes back the swell of emotions that threaten to ride out the wave of her thoughts. ”Especially since you will be taking him when he is weaned. He has no place in the Peaks…. No stallion does.” she finishes, her voice quaking as she swallows the lump that rides high in the throat. No stallion should be here. No. Khyber should not be here. He would never be here. Not with her. Not now, not ever.
She clears her throat, the tidalwave of rising grief shoved behind the archives of her diamond vision. Her skin heats at the momentary lapse of strength and she shudders her dappled skin to rid herself of the oppressing feeling. ”I brought you here to be a voice for the Peak. To relay a message to your…. leader.” she spits, stopping now to turn and face him. This, she would not say in front of their children, Ryvar was old enough now to start understanding the basics of what transpired but not the meaning behind them. ”The Peak did not stand behind Marceline’s decision in regards to your General. Likewise she has agreed to step down… and has left the Peak.” Why? Not even Khar’pern is sure. But she is certain that the ones who left with her have hurt the number of guardians here to patrol and for that, she cannot help but to resent the red woman.
”Call off your dogs.” she snaps, her tail snapping angrily as her brows furrow. ”I know a permanent solution cannot be found this easily but if your… boss, will agree to a ceasefire. I will release you… with the understanding that any Peak mare currently captive in the Lagoon also be released.” she finishes, her silvery gaze studying his handsome face as stoicly as possible. A hard feat when all she can think of is the warmth of his brassive touch or the rapid rhythm her heartbeat responded when his musky scent enveloped her. Gods what had she done.
rose gray Prime Minister of the Peak