He stayed quiet, muzzle nestled within the warmth of cream and golden fur. He didn't like it - the aching feeling he felt in chest, the voice at the back of his head chiding malevolent whispers of self-condemnation, the invisible hand that squeezed his throat. He didn't know what guilt was, but he knew what it felt like and he knew he never wished to feel it again.

But with the soft whisper and gentle caress from the golden, his cyclone of self-hate and remorse was washed away on forgiving lyrics. He looked up, dark blue gaze wide and round, echoing the innocence of the boy, nodding fervently at his mother. "Never again," the boy promised, his voice a breathless whisper. He returned his head to his mother's side, closing his eyes and breathing in the scent of home, of snow and pine that lingered still on her golden hide.

He only listened then, staying silent and still, thinking of how much warmer it was next to her than by himself. He heard words exchanged, the rumbling tones from the men sounding rather...vicious. Rein didn't understand it, and opened his eyes to peer quizzically at the stallions. Why were they upset? The tension that lingered in the air was indescribable to the colt, unbeknownst to his youth.

Then Mara was mentioned, someone he didn't know, but seemed to irk the others. It caused even his mother to tense. The boy's head dropped some, his ears flicking back, eyes darting between those gathered. He didn't understand the problem, he was incapable of doing so.

He leaned closer to his mother, eyeing both stallions with suspicion. He assumed the King to be good, for Kings were simply good, but the other he was beginning to distrust. Wasn't it he who mentioned that cataclysmic name? Perhaps this was by no fault of his own, but the colt found it irrational to say stuff that cause only bad things to happen.

'Whatever,' He hissed to himself, perking back up when his mother extended her welcome to Kiuaji. The golden colt smiled weakly up at her, tilting his head to one side at her encouragement. Why was she always making do stuff? He mentally groaned (if he hadn't of pulled his running away stunt, his groan would have been audible), turning his head to Aji, features retaining their worn, radiant glow, only dimming when his tongue was beaten.

The colt smiled anyway, his cheeks growing hot at being beaten. "Welcome," he murmured, uncertain of what else to say. He figured his Mommy might be upset if he said nothing at all, despite his desire to do so.  

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@Tembovu