The race had been fun. Regardless of outcome it had felt great to be able to stretch out entirely again, to feel the thrill of the challenge and know that it was all happening in good spirits with no hard feelings (hopefully, unless someone chose to take offense by his little prank in the beginning) and no retaliations to expect afterwards. Enjoying the slight fatigue and ache that lingered in the muscles, Lace strayed off as preparations ensued for the following race; he wanted to explore some before coming back to cheer on whichever friends or acquaintances that might participate. Mind you, he had scarce few friends among unicorns in Helovia - some forms of prejudice never quite went away.

This island was a curious place. Once the initial shock had settled and the stallion took the time to look around, he found himself surrounded by splendors of nature the likes which he had rarely seen before. Cascading waterfalls threw themselves endlessly over the rands with careless abandon, the droplets fading somewhere between here and the ground - perhaps fueling the clouds that so generously transported the flightless back and forth. The vegetation was lush and green, the flowers bright and fresh despite the lateness of the season, and where the park-like forest ended a strange yet inviting tent city began. Banners in all shapes and sizes fluttered merrily from raised poles, and as he roved between the large tents the grullo felt as though he had been transported to a different world entirely - as though the gods had chopped off a part of their own divine dwellings and moved it into the mortal world.

Perhaps there was also a bitter aftertaste to the realization that while each of the herds obviously had their own areas to gather within, no place in particular had been set in order for those who belonged to none. He wondered what the powerful Lords - and Lady - thought of those who cared for none of them, or who chose to honor all of them equally; were they not welcome? Did the gods believe in sharing, or would they all rather see that the mortals chose one patron and stuck to it?

A wry smile fell upon his lips as he turned around a corner of the street-like passages and spotted a large arena up ahead, it's purpose immediately made clear for the battle-scarred stray; an battleground. Apparently the high lords - and lady - believed that battle was to be made into an art-form, a game suitable to entertain. Perhaps it had been the sole way to settle disputes once upon a time - Lace had a hard time believing that such a thing would become practiced again. He had seen gladiators do battle for the entertainment of others in several of the lands he had visited on his travels - nothing good ever came with it. Still. Perhaps the arena was where the outcasts, exiles and heretics belonged; away from the peace and order of the herd-lands, somewhere in a place where no one but themselves could get hurt.

As Lace made his way over towards the coliseum to explore further, a flash of fiery orange caught his attention among the crowd of horses milling about. Looking again to make sure he wasn't mistaken, the aging stallion smiled again - this time a bright and cheerful grin that softened the grim expression he had been wearing - and set off after the girl, hurrying best he could to catch up with her before she disappeared.

"Tandavi!" he called to gain her attention. "I thought it was you... did you join in the race? I'm about to go check out the arena, do you want to come along? Maybe have a go..." Reaching out to brush the nose against her shoulder in an almost fatherly fashion he gave her a slight wink that was both playful and challenging. He had no idea how experienced she was when it came to combat - but you had to start somewhere, and he'd be more than happy to teach her.


@[Tandavi]

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