Me and Delinne did share one unspoken notion—both of us had seen little of Seele, our colead. But I’d run the desert sands alone for years and wasn’t affected by her lack of appearance, so long the blood mare did her job when called into action. To keep better watch over things I’d started working the borders more frequently and spending less and less time exploring the woods. Through months and equally long days, this territory had become nearly as familiar to me as my former homeland. It wasn’t surprising that I’d grown to love our country in some small way, Earth had done his job in making sure that everything was well suited to our needs. Each turn was a treat to the eyes, breathtaking beauty was hard to deny or resent.

I’d seen her bring yet another into our fold, a creamy colored male with heavy looking horns up top his skull. He was large, a beast of true girth and likely a warrior. I pushed from the cliff, catching the wind and swirling down to them. Limbs uncurled to catch earth from beneath, bent to absorb the weight and shock of my descent. Body settled into the forgiving soil, gold sprang from heels, disappearing only when daggers moved to spread it elsewhere. A small grin welcomed them, and that of Delinne’s children. There was a moment of lingering on the very young filly I’d never seen in company with Delinne, my features softened toward the babe before becoming more business like as I greeted both old and perhaps new kin, “Welcome home Delinne, and ye good sir.”

Tsar returned my greeting and I blessed it with an approving grin that hinted upon the man past all these formalities. Delinne explained the reason for this visit and I nodded, calmly waiting for her to continue. When his mother finished talking, the gangly colt spoke up, strongly voicing his opinion. The smile I wore shifted to one of a more tender humor, it was nice to see the babe taking an interest in the workings of his family. Grin twisted higher in support for this decision, “A fine youth ye has reared, Delinne.” There are notes of real admiration in my tone, for it was motherhood above all else which altered the path of the next generation—and for once, this colt seemed promising in ventures that stood to good reason. “I’m sure ye will serve our family with honor.” My words fell for the child who would soon cast off the soft baby down and enter the gleaming world of adulthood.

And what a world it was.

The subject of this conversation seemed to come to a conclusion. Tsar's choice was music to my ears, “Aye, ye is most welcome to join our ranks,” he was an impressive fellow, not the largest I’d ever seen—not by far. A man who looked well suited for the battlefield and perhaps given his age to grow to such height, he was very experienced, “Perhaps ye could share a trick or two to our younger recruits, they are in need of schooling.” Training was something this family had been lacking in.

He agreed to educate our youth, and I was satisfied with that. (Who could argue with a willing heart?) “Report to Rostislav, when ye has settled in.” Our current Legatus would aid in getting this new Tiro going in various tasks; hopefully the promise of training would happen sooner rather than later. With new stirrings of inner conflict in Hidden Falls, I desired all the seasoned warriors we could have, sentinels guarding the base of these mountains, defenders standing to correct injustice—loyal soldiers had become an expensive commodity. Not to mention that it was hard to tell where their loyalties drew a line when the question of Asylum came up.

“I must return to my post,” the borders weren’t going to protect themselves, “Find me should more questions arise.” With a nod directed at the group as a whole and a soft smile gracing lips apart for Delinne’s children, I retreated back into the atmosphere. Returning to my cliffside view of the area that had become my seclusion and part-time job. There were other newbloods to accept, and various issues that needed attention. Only time would tell if Tsar proved his loyalty and matched words with actions.

There would also be water if god willed it. Hidden Fall’s was no different from Dragon’s Throat in the sense that people came in, and people went out. More often than not, they simply vanished without a trace—just like Kri had, and just like Hototo had.

OCC: Yep! This thread is closed, and it looks like you've been updated in the records already <3!