Hate.
Pain.
Fear.
Fury.

The mist swirled around his body, around his face, a soothing balm on the charred skin on his back. The stench of melted hair and burnt flesh hung around him like a vile cloud, each breath - each miniscule movement of his hindquarters - sending a sharp stab through him. Nerves screamed, his heart raced, yet his mind was passive. The dragons left him alone, for now, and in the dark he could see Monster coming towards him. Still alive, then. Good. The fog was thickening, a blanket across the land, hiding friend and foe from view.

He felt tired.
Worn.

The whole thing was unfolding before him, spreading out, and something like despair gripped his icy heart. He stood on the outskirts, soul like lead, his heart about to fall through his ribs and into the ground. Something behind his eyes felt hot and urgent, a lump in his throat, sawing away at his resolve, at his nerves, at his mind. The breeze prodded his burnt skin with merciless fingers, but wincing would only make it hurt more.

Out of nowhere came Snö. Looked at him. Looked away again.
He felt like baring his teeth at her. She was the one who had run. He wasn't going to ask her back. It was up to her. Her life.

Fuck it all.

Their line had never been, so he could not say it was broken. He had done what he could, used what he could, to try and stall the force coming at them.

Futile. Pointless.
They had been nearly the same number, but his had fallen.
Was his race truly so weak?
Disgust.

The growl died in his chest. Would hurt too much. Throat raw, ragged - screaming, smoke? He didn't know which. Could feel blood running down his horn, staining his forehead a macabre red. Soon it'd dry, become like flakes of rust. Easy to rub off. It smelled vile. Grated at his control.

Out of the fog came a soldier, spinning into Monster. So near Snö. So near Psyche. He didn't move. Blinked. Stared. He knew that it was over. The knowledge had settled across him like a dead weight dragging him under water, something that went deeper than thoughts - deeper than flesh and bone and spillt blood. It was as if the Moon herself was whispering to him of his defeat.

This mare, this Mirage, had proclaimed herself a follower of that very goddess. Fuck it all.

He had to suffer just a little more for his herd.

Air - nothing sweet, nothing blessed, just like acrid smoke and death - filled up his lungs, skin screaming. He smelled like a charred corpse. Could remember fire flickering all over.

Deep, thundering, the cry left his chest, rolling out like the fog itself across the World's Edge.
We are lost.
He knew some of those lying on the ground were his. Friends. Allies. Brave souls who had gotten in over their heads. He couldn't do a single thing. Could just - let them be. Hers. This time he growled, withdrawing a pained step. Wishing death to rain upon them all, like Histe did. Fire. Rain. Death. Monster could fend for himself. He knew how to kill. Had a horn, damnit. Use it. Kill the bitch and be done with it.

"I hope it pleases your wretched soul, dragonwhore," he hissed under his breath. He would not forget. Not forgive. Helovia had taken the first step, had broken the rules of conduct, of fragile alliances - for the sake of what, a stupid fucking moron who was too short-sighted to take the opportunities given to her?

He was getting the hell out of here. No point in staying and playing the humiliated lord. No point in doing anything except falling into a ditch and sobbing until the pain went away.

Those left, would not be so for long.
His teeth hungered for revenge.

He mustered a second cry, a rallying one; unless Mirage tried to interfere with his soldiers' leave, he'd lead them somewhere else. Someplace safe. Somewhere where they could unsheathe their knives and show Helovia just was beast they'd prodded from its winter sleep.
He was done playing nice.

Grinding his teeth together, swallowing each wince and each tear, Mauja began to limp east. His future lay elsewhere now.

( keep in mind that Mirage can choose to hold the herd prisoner, so unfortunately you need to check with Whit before stating that you leave. :/ )

Mauja Frosthjärta