A few strangers arrived, namely the tree-horse. Ricochet openly gaped at her, horrified beyond belief. What he knew in the hideous features of unicorn and pegasus paled in comparison to this thing. She, it rather, was a truly disgusting creature, which naturally the unicorn hippie was more than happy to invite in. Ricochet had to feign an itch on his foreleg to hide the revulsion settling on his facade.

The child beside him moved forward, drawing his attention. She spoke well-thought words and her lesser age and retained innocence, for Kimber had clutched to it dearly, only bolstered the worth of her query. Ricochet's head nodded in approval of her voice, although he could not know the truth behind it, being so new to arrive.

A mare, Solstice if he remembered right, slid into place near him. He chuffed a low greeting to match her smile. As she dipped her head low to him, something he mistook for large manners until his ears snagged her soft voice, he did the same. An interested spark lit in his teal eyes as he turned them to her, gauging her for a moment before nodding but slightly. Perhaps he had more support here than he first considered...

The boy at her side, another Ricochet felt he recognized but did not know as well, spoke in turn after Kimber. He had his own points and Ricochet watched him with the intent of a hawk. This young stud would need proper guidance, perhaps Ricochet could gather him astride Jackal as his latest crop of apprentices. Speaking of Jackal where was the boy? Teal eyes cast about, suddenly anxious to spot him. Would Ricochet know him if he saw him? He thought he might. Smoke had mentioned something about a dragon...

More words passed and Ricochet took them in stride. Paladin was suffering meanwhile, that much Ricochet could tell. The face was burned and bloody, the only thing in which Ricochet could sympathize with the Valiant. So focused was he on studying the wearing patience and waning strength of the battered stallion, Ricochet did not sense Smoke's rising temper or her move forward until she was already speaking.

His head turned to eye her now, curious, and quickly despairing. For the first time Ricochet noticed the round swell of her belly and her anger was better justified to him, not that it needed it. Her decision to leave however, struck him like a cruel blow to the face. He tensed beside her, mind whipping into a frenzy. He was old enough now to hold his own and he'd certainly never looked to her much before in his past, their views were far too conflicting for him to name her a friend, yet her involvement in his life with Gunslinger and his sister Kimber were too much to brush off easily. In many ways, Ricochet needed Smoke, and he depended her on more than even he realized. Particularly now when so much was unknown to him, he needed her for a form of support and information. And what of Kimber? Would she leave with her mother, would Ricochet really have anything worth staying here for if she did?

Ricochet would have been content to drown in his confusion and loss, if not for the words of the black dun cutting across the air. Paladin's refusal to see clearly, to understand the slight he had given the proud and worthy mare set Ricochet's teeth on edge. His rage, simmering just beneath the surface of his skin as he was forced to convene amongst all these species and their disfigured bodies, had the stallion ready to burst. He strode forward suddenly, the dust behind him popping and igniting as he moved.

"Isn't it obvious?" Ricochet began, his voice thick with tension. "It's because you gave the title you know she damn-well deserves to your pale whore you idiot! What fucking HONOR is there in being demoted when she has not earned such punishment? A better question rather, is what has your precious Soleil done to deserve the rank, huh? " Ricochet seethed, a fore hoof striking the ground with the physical need to wreck. At his side Guns bristled, teeth bared and a low growl tumbling from the dog's throat as he suddenly surveyed the herd as opponents. "Where is she now? Where is Soleil the Traitor?" Ricochet tossed back his head and laughed. It was not a gleeful sound. "SHOW US THE TRAITOR. PROVE HER WORTH!" Foam now dribbled from the stallion's lips as his head shot down, neck bowing with muscle. Teal has had turned to daggers as they bored into Paladin, glinting in the light with obvious malice.

"I CHALLENGE SOLEIL FOR HER RANK, THE RIGHTFUL RANK OF SMOKE THE WILD ROSE!" Ricochet the Incendiary shouted at the tops of his lungs, haunches quivering as he burst into a half-rear, striking the air as though it would soon be Soleil's head. Beside him Guns barked violently, forepaws dancing as the collie lunged at the air.

So much for self-control. Maybe he hadn't matured as much as he liked to think. Yet this was a true act of honor, for if Ricochet had any sense in him he would have chosen the ragged Paladin as an opponent. Certainly he wouldn't have minded killing the unicorn. This was a matter of principle however, and Ricochet intended to prove how worthless of a lead Paladin had chosen over Smoke. If he arose victorious, which he naturally considered he would, the rank would go to Smoke.

Eventually, Ricochet would come for Paladin, and that rank would be his.

[Hum, so I literally have no control of this character xP He is challenging Soleil for leadership, and if he wins does intend to pass the rank to Smoke. This was not an intention of mine until reading these last couple threads so once again, this is nothing personal.]