He stand watch as the hours go by, the night deepening the darkness of the shadows as the moon disappear behind thin, drifting clouds. At times he is sure he can see gleaming eyes peer out at them from the thickets, shimmering with reflected light and hunger. Their stares make his skin crawl, make his heart beat faster in fear and fury; with fierce snorts he half rear and toss the mane in warning, stomping the hooves into the ground until the eyes disappear. Maybe they would have been braver if the darkness had been complete; but this four-leg wields the god-flame and has brought day into the night. They hesitate, and in doing so they lose; the stallion isn't weak like the fallen mare, he doesn't smell of sickness and death. They leave, in hope of finding some easier prey; the summer is rich and plentiful and there are easier ways to fill the stomach than to battle the food and maybe lose.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed. It could have been an eternity as far as he knew; all the guardian knew was that when the dragon slipped into his awareness and let him know that she was coming, that she had found help, he felt dizzy with gratitude and relief. Why he was so desperate to save this particular horse Lace didn't know. Maybe it was because she was young, or because he had spoken to her, or maybe he just would have tried to help anyone who collapsed before his eyes. Maybe there were deeper, more primal reasons - he didn't stop to question himself over it. It was enough that relief washed through him, that he felt like a mountain had lifted from his shoulders. Breathing freer and more easily than he thought he ever had before, the stag waited impatiently as minutes ticked by, feeling the presence of the dragon grow stronger in his mind as they approached.
Fajira hadn't told him who she had brought. He hadn't known who or what to expect, but apparently he had built some kind of grand expectation of a divine looking creature that glowed with goodness, so that the sight of the fire-coated child made him feel (for the first time since he had first met her) disappointed. Suppressing a frown he wondered why she was there, what she was doing so far away from the Throat, how she - and Fajira - thought she could help here... Then he remembered her blustered confession from their run in at the threshold of her new blessings, remembered her high rank and the indulgent smile of the Sun God and felt a bright, welcoming smile riddled with relief spread across his face.
"Tandavi, I'm glad you came" he breathed and backed away from the star-winged pegasus as she approached with the kitsune forming the vanguard; completely unaware of the mixed feelings of the filly towards the whole situation. He hovered over the three of them and watched with anxious eyes as Tavi breathed her healing flames over the star-child, held his breath in wonder and amazement at the wounds burned away and dried out the fever. When the bird-kin finally opened her eyes he breathed out explosively and smiled at her, gaze lingering protectively at her frame as she managed up on her feet and looked around, thanking first the healer and then himself.
"Not at all, Cirrus" he said warmly and tasted her name as he uttered it, too relieved to be embarrassed by their conversation right away. Her presence make his skin tingle, and he find himself absorbed by her gaze, her voice, her mere existence. A faint guilt ghost through him when he realizes his neglect of Tandavi, but the feeling is fleeting and soon lost within his urge to make sure that she, Cirrus, is alright.
"It was my pleasure.. not that I did much" he added quickly and stole another guilty glance at his young protégé. "I am simply glad that you feel better. How did you get hurt in the first place?" Without looking he registered the movement of the dragon, heard her wings beat the night air and suddenly felt sharp claws dig into his skin as she returned to him, to perch on his whithers. Her gaze was cold and clear as she stared down at the pegasus, the icy blue eyes both curious and critical as she inspected this individual that had earned such attention from her bonded.
@[Tandavi]
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