What kind of King would he be if he was not eternally roving his home, sweeping across the forest's floor like a breath of wind, stirring ashes in his wake? The safety of his herd was is duty, the approval of newcomers as well, but perhaps first and foremost to know his herd, to earn their hearts and prove worthy of their trust. He owed them as much respect as they owed him, if not more. After all, had they not chosen to follow him and his command? If he were to be unworthy, they would not, and so they were his moral compass, Ulrik more so than most. The majority of Mauja's brothers and sisters shared in their ideals, the scorn of the other races lying like an arrogant passion in their hearts, and some wore it more openly than others. Mauja made no secret nor any excuses for his herd member's thoughts and actions, but always played kind when meeting others, stowing his racism someplace deep, where only he could find it and bring it to the surface. Some, he simply didn't know where they stood: Lena, Aurelius, Huyana... Lena, innocent and joyous; could she harbor darkness in her soul, like Kou did? Aurelius - he had not shown any indication of racism when meeting Solstice... and Huyana, with her liquid sorrow swimming in her eyes. Could she hate?

He trod carefully around them. Surely they'd caught a scent of something darker in their King's motives, in his herd of misfits, in the dark monster's shadow, who seemed to always hover nearby when he was at home? Ah, well... Until he knew their hearts, he would smile and say as he'd told Aurelius - who was he to deny his kind a home, if they found themselves uncomfortable in the presence of other races? Those who wished to mingle could do so, in both Throat and Foothills, but those who desired the company of their own kind? It was, after all, true - just not the entire truth. In the shadows, he was amassing an army.

So perhaps it was no surprise at all that he came across a pair of unicorns standing by a creek; one was the dark shape of Lena, the other a dapple gray stallion whom he did not know. It wasn't hard to come to the conclusion that Lena had brought him. Gracing her with a smile, Mauja strode out of the scant shadows, warmth and curiosity playing across his face. "Lena," he breathed her name, stepping in close enough to put his muzzle against her shoulder in greeting. Lena had always struck him as a fairly physical mare, and also one easy to hurt; he'd done it involuntarily a few times already, and had no desire to do so again. He let his gaze and attention switch to the stranger, briefly watching the sunlight sparkle in the few lingering drops of water around his muzzle. He was a handsome stallion, but weary-looking, as if he'd come a long way - no doubt he had. Most did. Mauja had. The myriad of questions he wished to ask, about his past, his future, his heart - he pushed them all aside. They'd have to wait, to a time when he was rested and settled in. "And welcome to you, stranger. I am Mauja. What is your name?" And in all honesty, while he wanted to get to know his herd, he didn't want to interrupt on private conversations. Unless they explicitly commanded him to stay and chat with them, he'd probably only linger long enough to learn his name and put the official stamp of approval on his joining of their brotherhood, and then slip off into the embrace of trees again.

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