The stallion had awoken in a dark sweat. His body had ached something fierce and blood rose like red cliffs on parts of flesh that already were scabbing and itching. A soft whine from the dog at his side buzzed in his ears, head pounding in rhythm to his heart.

The tongue that leapt out from the black and white muzzle told of the dog's excitement as the stallion stirred.

War of that measure had been a different beast than the creature Ricochet normally tamed on the battlefield. Gunslinger had not taught him of this. Yet they had won, it seemed, though Ricochet himself still lay strewn in the dirt and the mud. They had won and that brought a fool's grin to his scarred maw as he struggled to his hooves.

With dog in tow they'd set back to the Foothills, shouldering the Edge behind him. Talk of dragon queens did not interest the fighter that had only come to taste the blood on his lips of foes, any foes, but especially horned foes. He did not love the Qian and he did not serve under decree of the black dun. Ricochet only loved to fight.

---

A few moons had risen and the stallion was just feeling hale enough to do more than graze. Trailing from his favorite field the mare's call set his head up high and fast. Guns howled in response to the call, the noise cut off as Ricochet aimed a feign kick in his direction. Tossing his neck the stallion took off towards the sound, recognizing the owner. Guns, pouting at the affront to his song, followed at an unhurried jog.

"Solstice!" Ricochet called out ahead of himself as he finally caught sight of the familiar form. Hooves hummed over the earth but he stretched his pace, suddenly eager to be upon her once he recognized her path aimed to the land's borders.

Skidding to an ungraceful stop, his muscles still complaining of the battle not some days past, Ricochet heaved himself in front of her. Breathless he wheeled to face her, teal eyes bright with confusion and hurt. "Don't tell me you mean to abandon this place too!"

There was a young wail that crept into his tone as he spoke. One by one Ricochet was loosing what little support he had in this herd. Not before long he would suffer the same disease as they - what ties kept him here when all the knots had loosed themselves to be bound elsewhere? Solstice and he would never see eye to eye, but he could not bear the unicorn lead without her lovely equine face to refresh him every day.