Seasons ago, a cinnamon stallion with a heart of a child had wandered into the Threshold with a purpose. He had been full of purpose, a wild fire that had made him strong and daring. Back then, he had been ready to take on the world. Became a warrior, suffered with his new family in a wasteland that could hardly pass as a home. It had been years, it seemed, since he was that stallion. No longer was he strong, or proud. The roaring flame within his chest had dwindled under an onslaught of rain, turning to a weakly flickering ember. He was no longer the Tolio he remembered.

It had taken a lot of thought for him to decide on what he was about to do. There was so much to be left behind. Faelene, the amazing woman that had found him that day in the woods. She had been his rock through every storm, uncaring of why it was raging. Every day, he thanked the gods above for having placed her in his life. Inside his heart, she had taken up a very large portion, and he called her sister with love in every syllable. More than anyone, perhaps, he would miss her. It would likely be hard for them both to separate. Faelene had been his entire world for the longest time, and losing her would likely hurt him just taking that first step out of Helovia. Tolio didn't want to leave her, but knew he had to. She was the strongest mare he knew, and he knew she would continue on.

Mauja. His king. The spotted Bane had taken him in, greeted and touched him like long-lost brothers. Everything Mauja was, Tolio wanted to be. He was still young, after all. His King had been everything, and Tolio had sworn loyalty to him the moment their eyes had met in the Steppe. That loyalty would never, never break. Even at that very moment, broken so far down from the person he used to be, Tolio would kneel before Mauja without hesitation. The Frost-Heart could utter a single command and Tolio would do it; would drive himself upon his own horn, even. A soldier and his leader, Tolio would forever be there to trumpet Mauja's name into battle, to wear the badge of the Basin upon his hide. That was the only reason he remained. Psyche was not his leader, but he stayed because it was everything Mauja had worked for.

Zikar-Sin. He had become one of Tolio's favorite people, and though he knew he was crushing heavily on the stallion he knew he could never be good enough for the sweet unicorn. Would Sinny miss him? Tolio didn't know. Didn't want to know, really. Zikar-Sin was the sweetest person he'd ever met, so adorably confused by everything around him, and Tolio's chest ached at the thought of hurting him. But with the trouble he always seemed to attract, Tolio had decided that Zikar-Sin was better off without him anyways.

Loki. Though he was flirtatious, he was kind and surprisingly good company once you looked past that. Looked really far past that, of course, but Tolio was grateful nonetheless. He'd been there to effectively get his mind off of Phaedra, of course.

Phaedra.

This name brought the most emotion to his chest. Phaedra had turned his world upside down. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes not so much. For the longest time, she'd been his little sister. Someone to protect. But slowly but surely, he had started to see behind the face she put up to lure in unsuspecting stallions. Saw just how gentle, shy, and loving she could be. He'd never been one to find mares particularly attractive due to his preferences, but somehow she had been his exception. Tolio had never loved anybody more than her, and doubted he ever would. Sometimes he wished he could, that his heart would be free from the turmoil that surrounded his insurmountable love for Phaedra. That, just once, he could be loved back without having to let go of them. More than anything he wanted to be with Phaedra, but he knew they couldn't be. They both knew.

His babies. Twins, according to Faelene. Tolio ached to meet them, but Phaedra had kept them from him. He didn't blame her. He probably would have done the same in her position. But he loved them, even without meeting them. He loved them more than anything else in the world, wished he could press kisses to their foreheads, see which parent they looked like. All he'd wanted in life was a child, and had always thought he would never be gifted with one. Instead, he had received the gift of twins, beautiful baby girls that would be in his heart forever. If Phaedra did not let him see them before he left...it would crush his heart. But he would understand.

Word of the Grey's conquering of the Foothills had spread like wildfire, and so that was what had drawn Tolio to its borders. The scents were slowly shifting, but tired silver eyes cared not for guards possibly patrolling the area. All he wanted was to see his lady, the love of quite possibly his life. Warm sunlight cascaded over the fiery surface of his canvas, broken into spots by the trees overhead. Everything was quiet aside from the rustle of the wind through the branches, a calming melody only sweetened by the beautiful trilling of various birds within. Streaked plume swished rhythmically, if weakly, against snowy legs. Tolio was so very, very tired. He needed to find himself once more, and that was why he had to leave. Helovia had changed him, and he was no longer sure if it was for the better.

Tolio was leaving, and he didn't know for how long.

But he could not leave without telling Phaedra he loved her, that he would miss her. In time, perhaps she would find another. Tolio was not good enough for her. Upon his return, he would bless whomever had managed to steal her true heart, not the one she flaunted around to protect herself. Phaedra deserved love- real, pure love. Would Tolio find love? With a soft sigh, he realized that it was highly likely he would not. Even if he did fall for someone, who would have the patience to tend to his shattered, shredded heart? It would surely hurt less to rip it out himself.

Like a machine slowing to a stop, so his body shuddered and momentum drew away like liquid falling from his coat to the ground below. For a long time he merely stood there, wishing to just turn into particles and be blown away on the wind. Would anybody truly miss him?

Another sigh.

Bald face turned to the sky and he sang out his last song for the lovely being within. He would give her the rest of his heart to keep when he was gone. Tolio secretly feared, even prepared for, the possibility that when he returned it would not still be waiting for him.

Tolio would love Phaedra forever, but he would not chain her to the ground any longer.