The elephant felt his love relax into the safety of his embrace, then he felt her grow tense- with the appearance of the other stallion? She grew tenser with every step towards them, and her words were infuriated as they chased his own, irritated ones. She practically vibrated with anger beside him. He flicks an ear towards here, studying her with a sideways glance as his stormy blue gaze leaves the winged stud.

The reason for her ill-kept fury was revealed promptly, as bitter words strike the air between them. Thick nostrils flare as a disgusted breath rushes out, making his distaste visible as clouds around his muzzle. ’Your love is youthful, something that would occur between yearlings.’ A shocked, amused snort escapes him as he eyes this colt while he addresses Rexanna. In his contempt, he found this little fledgling wanting in desired traits. The feathers on his tail were stringy, in need of preening. As were his wings- which appeared too large for his adolescent frame that had not yet filled out with muscle. His neck was slender, lacking the handsome crest that comes with age and testosterone. His black was dull, like shadows- lacking luster or sheen. Mud had stained his the bottoms of his white legs- in all, he found it hard to believe that it was this colt that had had his Rexanna. “I think it is your lust that is so ‘youthful,’” he pauses for the juvenile is leaving, “It is devotion and forgiveness that stand the test of time. But I think you’ll discover that with age.” There was truth beneath the condescension in his words. It was plain on enraged face.

He then realized that he had taken steps away from Rexanna as Alexander had spoken his crude, deprecating words. Yes, the scorn with which Alexander had addressed her had infuriated him even more. That was part of the reason he had distanced himself from the gilded princess- he was feeling violent. But hearing those words- hearing another man speak of intimacy with her. And so vulgarly. Irate aversion swam in his eyes, and he could not look at her, nor speak. So he stared at a small, dead shrub that his tense body ached to pummel- an outlet for this undulating anger and pain.

“‘Wise One’ is a rank. Are you not part of a herd…?” Alexander’s words cut through this haze in his mind. Herd. The other stallion had smelled of Rexanna- her smell of ice and snow. Not her primal scent that he had assumed was for him alone- this thoughts caused red to swim through his vision so he quickly chased the previous one.

Herd. Though everything smelled of ice and snow in Frostfall, they both smelled so strongly of it. “He’s in your herd, isn’t he? Is that how this happened?” His tone was flat, quiet. So unlike his usual rich, deep voice. He paused for a long moment, unsure if her answer would change the revelation that was dawning on him.

“Rexanna, you’ve broken-“ he stops himself, not wanting to put her on the defensive, “—There’s something broken between us, now. The trust that was there is gone.” He pauses once again, the uncertainty leaving his words and body as he continues, “Come with me to the Edge. For us. We will not survive you living with him- or being away from me.” The furor in his voice dies as it hushes and his dark blue gaze meets hers, anger stripping away and becoming wounded, vulnerable, “I will not survive it.”

TEMBOVU

Beware the weight of a vengeful soul.