’...thanks to your mother we are bound to get more acquainted.’ The tone of his voice draws a sharp gaze from mother and daughter alike. Despite the upward twist of her lips, Khar’pern cannot help the scoffing snort that escapes her nostrils as her silver eyes roll at Khyber’s dramatic explanation. ”Maybe if someone was better at fighting than running his mouth things would be a bit… different.”she purrs, flicking her long tail in his direction as chipped hooves dance beneath her lithe form. This… the bantering… the snide remarks… this was them. This is what made sense. Instead of needling him further with dreams of bringing the Lagoon stallions and Peak mares into a ceasefire, at least this they could do, even if the mutt looked as out-of-place as she had felt in the Lagoon.




The look of disgust does not leave her face as her sire responds with equal measures of sarcasm. Despite Khar’s warning, the cockiness in Khyber’s smirk is enough to draw the smoldering fury to her eyes. Velvet lips curl upwards in distaste as she stomps a single hoof. The gaze she levels at him is as even as deadpan as she can manage. ”um… ewwww.” she snorts. Father-daughter time? Not on her life. A string of obscenities and barbed responses linger on her tongue but before she can manage to let a single one slam into the painted bachelor, Solas speaks up. ”Ry… please be nice. He came all this way to meet us remember? You don’t wanna scare him away.” The innocence in the black and white colt’s blue eyes is enough to smolder the rising levels of frustration and anger at their parents. Her auburn gaze settles on her younger brother as the expression on her face softens. ”He came to meet you Sole, not grouchy old me.” she teases, brushing past Khar to nuzzle her brother affectionately.


Khar-pern glances at Ryvar once more. ”Why don’t you go check with Ash. I think she needs someone to patrol the eastern border.” the mare says. She did not want Ryvar to intervene now. It would be better for them all if these plans came from her lips… later.


Ryvar does not need to be told twice. While her brother might not sense the awkwardness of this encounter, it is all the mahogany mare can feel. With a nod of her head the young mare shoots Khyber one final hard glare before picking up a quick trot across the meadow. At least Aunt Ashteroth would let her spill her frustrations without judgment. Patrol or not.


The rose-colored mare watches as Ryvar departs at a clipped pace. Only when the young mare disappears behind the screen of conifer trees on the far end of the meadow does she turn her gaze back to Khyber. ”You will have to excuse her, she has had a sour attitude towards the lagoon for some time now… you can understand that emotion I’m sure.” she taunts, the smile genuine as the glitter of humor in her eyes.

Solas does not mind his sister’s departure or the bristled look on her face as she offers their parents a departing glare. He was used to Ryvar’s gruff demeanor. She was like that with everyone… well, everyone except him.


Ignorant of the sharp retorts that pass over his head, the colt’s blue eyes stare up at his father in awe. An excited squeal bursts from his lips when Khyber says that he can come and see the swamp for himself. Fluffy black and white tail wags excitedly against his hips as the colt bounces between his parents, stretching his small muzzle up to bump them both as he bounces in excited circles. ”Momma did you hear that?! I get to go to the swamp too!” he beams, halting breathlessly to puff out his chest and lift his small head high.


’... your mom seemed to enjoy it… she keeps coming back…’ this time, her eyes roll dramatically. Although her stay as a captive of Khyber in the Lagoon had been far from unpleasant, the rose-dappled mare would never admit it to him, not now… not ever. ”Oh yes let me tell you… I just loved all those annoying buzzing insects and wet mud patches to slip and slide through every few steps.” she replies dryly. ” You better be careful those mosquitos don't fly away with you my love. They are big as horses there.” she murmurs, a smile ghosting at the corners of her lips as she shoots Khyber a playful glare from beneath the lacey veil of her obsidian forelock.


For the first time, a flash of worry dances across Solas’ vision as the colt turns his bright blue eyes up to his sire once more. ”Are they really that big?!” he asks, unable to hide the shock from his voice.

Khar'pern

The jungle is dark but full of diamonds;