The lack of hoof beats behind him signaled that Snö wasn't trying to catch up with them. Just as well. His fear-crazed guilty heart wasn't sure it would be able to take it, to take knowing that his precious daughter chased after the monster he had brought here. Deadly, wild, rampant, he wouldn't trust anyone he loved near that black creature (yet; how curious the course of the future). And so sweat lathered his pale skin, exhaustion burned like painful fires in his muscles, each breath heavy, short, labored. If only he'd have slept, too... If only if only if only. But luck was not such, and once they crossed out of the trees and closer to the Edge the black madman spotted him - and, what? His eyes weren't burning with the fire of his blood thirst, but with something that seemed so much more spirited, energetic, maybe even happy.

But Mauja remembered the dull look in those eyes, the absence of intelligence, the fiery, swirling rage: he would not believe this creature out on a happy prance, not after what he had seen. His shoulder tore, the scab worked loose by his frantic motion and a faint trickle of blood marring his marble features. At the horizon, the sheer drop off the world loomed, but there was no room for yet another fear in him. If Monster ran off the edge, his herd would be safe.

There was nothing to fear. No nightmare in the morning light.

Though once his words caught up with the rampant hellion, black legs slid in under a careening body and eventually he came to a stop. Nearly blown, Mauja broke off to a slow trot, prowling up close to the black beast. Sunlight glinted off the sweat on his rapidly heaving sides, nostrils flaring wide with each breath as he tried to calm his racing, frenetic body. A look of distrust and fear was sent to the edge from his black beast, who retreated to the safe perch behind Mauja's spotted rump. Curiously the King peered at the edge, and then back to Monster, before shrugging. Apparently he was still in the creature's good books..or he was going to try and shove him off. So what, then, had happened when he'd let go of the rope? Had it merely symbolized him being "off duty"? Mauja had a hard time believing it, but if it was, then it truly was a blessing.. another piece of knowledge stored in the vast mind of his.

"That edge is bad," he agreed dryly, hoping to further cement the Monster's dislike and caution. If his pet was as controllable as he was hinting at being, well, he didn't want him waltzing off the edge, then? No. "Come on, let's go see if we can find Snö?" He spoke more out of habit than anything, swinging his head in in an attempt to catch the rope and begin to lead him back through the forest, looking for the monarch's daughter.