"It doesn't seem all that safe... for a mare."

Abraxas blinked at Mercy, not understanding. How could it be unsafe? He had watched with his own eyes as mares were brought here and guarded like precious jewels. Rumour was that Garmr would do as he liked with a mare you brought if you did not provide a new brother first, but that was just talk. Brax had never seen evidence of such nonsense.

With his ears twisted back and his mouth a firm line, Brax fought to get control of his anger. His face felt hot; his heart was pounding like a drum. He had felt these things such a short time ago, cavorting with Mercy in the Common, but there was no sweetness to it this time. Yet he did not want to scare her away when he'd only just snagged her. This should have been a beautiful moment for them—him bringing her to her new home for the first time—and he was determined to make it so.

"Mercy, this isn't some everyday, ragtag bachelor herd. There's a code here. We're not all just animals doing whatever we please." He exhaled, his brain scrambling for anything that could convince her. "If anything it's better than a regular herd. You don't get to choose your herd leader, but here the leaders are elected. It's all diplomatic."

He reached forward to bump her shoulder with his muzzle, hoping to lighten the mood a little, even as the space between his eyes creased in concern. "Give it a chance, won't you, Mercy? It would mean a lot to me if you did. Let me show you around so you can see what I see in it."

He looked away, his hazel eyes darting across the rocks and mud and sand. He could not bring himself to say the rest: that if Mercy ever tried to leave, she would be stopped. She would find out for herself, if she ever tried.