"Foothills!"

Apollo's heart skipped a beat, his head snapping upwards at the cry of alarm. Nostrils flared wide, eyes widening, soaking in the surroundings as he tried to understand just what was going on. Were they at war? Did Confutatis come back, attempting to steal the crown from his head once more? A moment of panic flared in the stallion's heart before reason kicked in. No, that wasn't Confutatis... But a male, and one that he knew well. Mesec, it was Mesec. But why did he sound so alarmed?

Turning on his haunches, Apollo wasted no time in following the sound of the young Shadow's voice. Ever since Mesec had joined them, back when the Grey had first taken the Foothills and they had barely begun to live in this land, but just before their ultimate demise, Apollo had been fond of the young hybrid. During the Hellish event of that cursed eternal darkness, Mesec had been like a beacon of hope. He had promised that the darkness would not last forever, that if they banned together, they could prevail... And he had been right.

So when Mesec's voice rang out in genuine alarm, normally such a quiet, modest creature that he was, Apollo knew that there was no reason he should turn the other cheek.

"Mesec!" Apollo called upon spotting the dark colt, pulling himself up short just a few widths away from him. Instead of barraging the youth with a bunch of inquiries, however, the Merciful Chief shut his mouth and allowed the hybrid to speak. Mesec spoke of venturing to the Marsh, and encountering something of malice and ill-intent... The idea that something could be happening in Helovia beneath their noses caused Apollo's gut to clench and his belly to roll, and for a few moments he stood there in a stupor.

He remembered, long ago, when he had first stepped foot in Helovia, that the Marsh had been one of the first places he had ventured to. There, he had met Midas and Fina, and they had wandered the decaying, decrepit place in search of ghosts, as were rumored to wander the place... Yet they had found nothing. What if... What if the terror that had attempted to attack Mesec had been the very spectre's that they had been searching for? Oh, Gods above...

Sucking in a deep breath, Apollo spoke, outstretching his muzzle towards Mesec in a hopes to calm the youth. "I... I'm glad that you're safe, Mesec," the Chief began softly, trying to ensnare his own fear to help calm Mesec's own, "But I think you have a good idea. You've helped us during the terrible Eternal Night, and this time, you've done so again."

Collecting himself, Apollo shook his head, knowing that he needed to be a Chief right now, and not just a friend. "Foothills... Do not turn a blind eye to the information that Mesec has brought to us. Some of you were not here when darkness descended upon Helovia, but like then, we must band together and strengthen ourselves and our borders, should we hope to withstand whatever may be coming. I volunteer myself to help with nightly patrols... Will any of you stand beside us now in this crucial time?"

Perhaps it was nothing... But Apollo wasn't willing to take that chance.