Dawn broke the moon's hold and soon the earth began to warm to the newborn spring light, chasing away nagging cold and turning leaves bright in health. The Nightshade looked upon the day in a strange haze of pink. Everything was pink! The mountains were pink, the lakes were pink, the trees were pink and even the sky was blushing at him. All the way through his rather disjointed amble across the Threshold, d'Artagnan wore a look of complete perplexity. Like he was trying to solve a really hard puzzle, which really, he was in his own twisted way. Even Aramis was growing a pink mushroom on top of his head, the fungi a stark contrast to the rest of the hounds body. A hound who kept throwing dark looks at his bonded Commander as he knew all too well what was going on or what d'Artagnan thought was going on. It all came down to one thing; Toadstool Lanterns. The shade had stashed a couple away in his pouch for later and, meaning to reach for something more uplifting like snowweed, had eaten a toadstool instead and thus the world now blushed at him like an innocent maid.

It wasn't long before Aramis caught the scent of strangers and without much notice, trotted off in their direction with a rather confused looking d'Artagnan following close behind. Upon swift arrival d'Artagnan caught a number of things on a pink level, 3 blushing unicorns and a red letter equine who had death written all over her. Marvellous! The boy, who would've been a dun, had a lion in tow that Aramis dipped his head in greeting to the carnivore. Strong companions always had the respect of the Hellhound. For now, the shade had heard all he'd needed to hear in order to speak his mind, the world may be pink, but he was still quite coherent.

"Like any of these saps have a family worth returning to." He gruffly announced his arrival, moving to stand in front of the rather bright mare whom was the subject of interest today. He towered above them all seemingly and the Nightshade smacked his lips together in a new habit, thoughts churning through his chaotic mind. "I am d'Artagnan the Nightshade, of the stronghold in the north, the Aurora Basin." He motioned to his hound then who whipped his tail to the side, his red markings glowing lightly. "Aramis, hell's gift to me." He eyed the girl, the strange newcomer with the odd looking bracelet, standing in her way of going anywhere at all.

"Only the strong survive where I live, are you strong little mare?" He purred, clearly enjoying himself amongst what he would call rabble. Lastly, he looked at the painted equine from the Edge in disgust and laid back his ears with a look of hunger intense on his face. "Oh look Aramis! Lunch!" Aramis stalked a little nearer.

Everyday a castaway
A vagabond battle born