Ulrik

the engineer

Ulrik raised a single brow at her selt-entitled behavior. He had been a part of this land since his people discovered its existence. He had been at the side of d'Artagnan, Mauja and Psyche who ruled the World's Edge. He had fought at the battle in which they lost the World's Edge, and he had taken time for himself when the herd took refuge in the north. When the God of Time made for them a new land, he reappeared as Deimos had taken over. He and Deimos had forced Psyche into resignation.

He had been the Lord of the Basin! Yes, for a day, but long enough to earn his title, to put in place those he wanted in power. He had been here even longer than Illynx. Ulrik was a fixed point in this changing world. He, d'Artagnan, Deimos, and even Lena had been here, unicorns, united for longer than this little brat had even been born.

And yet she claimed that he would run away? From his home? From the land he made safe with his machines? The land he brought shelter to with weaving? The land he protected? The people he fought for? Bled for? What did she know of honor or respect? Deimos did not have to earn Ulrik's respect. Ulrik respected the stallion as a brother just as he respected Illynx as a sister. Ulrik respected Torleik before he had even realized they were cousins.

Because they were all family. All unicorns. All sharing in the same, glorious blood. The same, noble and beautiful purpose.

What a simple minded fool to think so little of someone she did not know. Did she think her life was reason enough to justify her behavior? Life was transient. He could kill. He already had. In his fury he had taken down some equine mare in the belly of the swamps. Just as quickly as life came, it was gone. We had to live for so much more. Life is not enough. Living is not enough. We must have purpose.

When Illynx spoke as rage filled his heart, his respect for the mare grew. She had chosen him - not the other way around. He did not ask for this, but he was here regardless. He did not know what to do with a child. He did not know how to raise children. All he knew was his machines, his science, and his brethren. But, she had chosen him still, and in a way, he felt honored. As she spoke, he focused on the gold of her eyes, knowing that if he turned his head to stare at the entitled brat, he would do something he would later regret. Then, his gaze drifted to the child, and all voices turned to rain in the distance, pattering against the edges of his mind.

He shuffled a little closer to the boy, standing just in front of him as if to protect him from the brutal words. Ulrik knew the boy could handle himself, but he had just been born. The maggot should at least have a few hours of believing the world was not fucked up and full of hypocrites and brats. The Engineer lowered his muzzle to the kid's neck once as if to say "I am here" before watching the self-important child leave, saying something dramatic about her family like and something else even more dramatic about darkness and blah, blah, blah.

"Everyone has a heart," he told his son. "Otherwise, they would not get so offended." He nodded once before gazing up at Illynx.

"Thank you."