Lace froze as the eyes of the God was turned to him. He felt sweat beading on the gray neck, from fear of what might come and from the heat that permeated the air. He breathed in, eyes widening as he was addressed. Was he supposed to answer that? Without knowing the situation, unable to hear all sides of the matter, how would he be able to judge? How could he judge, when the one receiving the punishment was so much greater than himself?

His mind registered the words exchanged between the immortals and saved them to think about later. Registering was also the expressions of the father of Light, ever changing but decidedly souring. A sense of alarm spread through him and sent Fajira into the air, her white form rising moments before he himself could react to the burst of temper, the blazing ball of fire that was hurled towards him.

The stallion reacted instinctively and spun around, protecting his face and eyes from the scorching heat by rearing and tucking it down beneath the front legs. A scream teared from his throat as fire licked the skin of his back, burning away ever single strand of hair from whithers to crop and whipping the sides and the shoulders, the flanks, singing the tail... The skin peeled away, flesh boiled and seethed, blistering and charring under the touch of the God's flames. It was a pain like none he had ever felt before, and it seemed as though he had become trapped in an endless torrent of torment. Screaming, screaming until there was no air left within the lungs and tears vaporized before they could leave the eyes.

Then the fire was gone and he wanted to run. Stop. Somehow his legs had become frozen in place though, capable only of bringing him down to the earth. Watch. Trembling, aching, Lace turned around to face the God once more. Amber eyes met with ones of flaring light, unable to comprehend the reasoning of this strange creature. Why did he take out his anger on others, who didn't know the reason for his wrath? It was like a child lashing out against another for not getting his way, blaming others for his own mistakes. Was it simply malice, aggression he was unable to retain? Sure the god ruling over the sun itself would have a hot temper, but didn't he know self restraint?

Even more incomprehensible did the Immortal become when Lace felt the burning sensation subside from the back. He blinked and hesitantly turned the head, reluctant to view the charred mess that was his back. Only, there was no charred skin, no oozing liquids. Instead he saw fresh skin grow in over pink flesh, scar tissue forming only to be erased. He gasped, trembling and awed by the sight of magic - the touch of it that was so unfamiliar to him. Never had he been subjected to it in such a personal manner. The stallion felt humbled, grateful, frightened by the power of the magnificent immortal. He barely even reflected over the golden strands that grew in over the skin, only noticed the different color without thinking more upon it. If there was a deeper significance to the marking it went beyond his comprehension.

Overwhelmed, the now gold-marked grulla almost couldn't take it anymore. He was glad when the attention of the Sun God returned to his siblings, happy to still be alive. The pain was but a memory, yet still so vivid in his mind that the taste lingered on the tongue. Had he done this to others as well? Burned them, marked them, spread terror with anger and hard words? Yet for some reason Lace didn't feel angry towards the blazing god. Confused, startled, sorry for being in the wrong place, yes. But hateful? No. He could understand why the other gods were upset, why something had to be done. But was there no other way? He felt once more how compassion for the golden stallion rose, clenching the throat. Wanting to speak, say something if favor of the being that had made him scream from pain... Lace, Lace, what is wrong with you? It was just... It didn't feel fair, for some reason.