It felt like it had been a long time since I'd had the opportunity to be a true thorn in anyone's side, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thoroughly enjoying this interaction. Hell, I hadn't even made any effort to threaten her or to even encroach in her space, and she was still irritated with me. Perhaps rightfully so, but until the election ended and the dust settled: she was still a trinket.

"Is it?" I ask with a tilt of my head. "Why should it be obvious you want to leave the Lagoon?" I laugh, the sound low and soft as I cock a hip and watch her. "Have you been harmed by any of the brothers? Has your child?" I didn't know the answer, of course, but for as dark as most of my brothers were believed to be by the islands at large, there have only been a few individuals in my experience who harm our trinkets. "It is one of only two places on this entire archipelago where every member in the herd has the authority and desire to protect you against any outside threats. It's warm. It's safe."

I tilt my head slightly again, my smile broadening. "So, I guess I don't get it. Why should it have been obvious to me that you want to leave?"

As she pushes again, asking about my motivations, I offer the equivalent of a shrug and a small shake of my head. "I have what I want, here. I wouldn't risk it going out there. I've been Marauder for a while now - leaving now, especially if I take my mares with me, would only invite trouble on my head." My eyes grow darker as I think of Abraxas and his cowardly decision to lever his vote for the freedom of mares that - under Garmr's decree - were not even his own. "The men here aren't all terrible as you likely believe, but they do hold a grudge. I sure hope Abraxas is ready for that."

Stallion - Adult - 15.2 - Brown Overo