"Rakt!" the Clovenheart hissed at his youngest companion when he stepped carelessly on a branch. Ashamin's tone was tough but not unkind, even though his black eyes were narrowing to nothing but slits. The red cerndyr looked back lazily, his neck twisting impossibly like an owl's, and rolled his gold eyes. Given their lack of pupil the movement was almost imperceptible, but Ashamin could simply feel the disdain. The former haruspex snorted but couldn't bring himself to be mad at his second bonded. A soft smile turned up onto his features, a glimmer appeared in his eyes, and he took a few steps forward to step on the same branch.

Lochan was still back at the Blood Falls, tending to Ashamin's small collection of things and searching for a good place where they might be able to set up some sort of semi-permanent camp. For now they were alone and they didn't need to accommodate any others, but after seeing Hotaru's wide belly Ashamin wanted to be sure that there would be some sort of stable place where his new child could visit him.

His new child. The thought sent a rush through him, a sort of chill that combated the heat of the day that sank into his black coat. Ashamin nosed Rakt tenderly and then pushed with him through a low wall of bushes, his steps light and his temper even. It was the first time in the long time that Ashamin felt good. He had the freedom of a wanderer again, and was no longer tethered to his herd. And as much as he hated to admit it, The God of the Spark had been right. His family was not abandoned, and the ties that he cared about were not entirely lost. If anything, he felt them to be stronger.

But in these wilds, unattached to a herd, he could make his own way and forge new connections. When Ashamin saw another stallion in the threshold wood he didn't feel responsible for selling the Basin to a stranger anymore, which had been no easy task. How many had turned and ignored him as soon as the snow had come up? It wasn't possible to avoid mentioning the cold in that valley forever.

Instead, the freed buck was able to walk confidently towards the stranger with a rare smile on his face. He looked over him quickly and cursorily, but noted that beneath the stallion's unique stripe marking were ribs that poked obviously against his hide. Age seemed to have blessed the bay, who stood taller but not necessarily stronger than Ashamin. With a good meal or two in both of their stomachs to level the playing field, Ashamin would love to see how the beast across of him operated in a challenge on the battle field.

"Greetings, stranger," Ashamin said with a respectful nod and a step closer to the stream. Behind him, Rakt leapt from the bushes and then further, into the stream. The red cerndyr paused, his mesmerizing gold eyes staring straight into the stranger's.

Sizing him up? Ashamin thought through their bond, his black eyes turning to watch his companion with care. The cerndyr only snorted and looked down at his own reflection, sending the painted buck nothing more than a mental image of a red splatter. The Clovenheart turned back to the stranger and smiled softly.

"New to Helovia or just revisiting the threshold?" he asked with a tilt of his head, not wanting to assume anything. His tail, long and tipped with coils, slithered belatedly out from the bushes and then curled up.  


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