“Be glad to,” he replies to the invitation to join them. His heavy hooves fall instep beside Mauja as his Queen leads both Glazier and constellation-mare further into the Edge. His ears are perked, for indeed the gargantuan stallion’s curiosity is piqued. He called Mauja his lead, fell under his rule, and recruited new equines to dwell within his lands. But he knew so little about the spotted stud. In fact, he realized, he new next to nothing about the snow leopard. Except that his fire birds hurt. A lot.

Quietly, he listens to Mauja’s description of his home. He alternates looking ahead of him, glancing at Katerina, and closely studying the lead’s face as he speaks. A soft snort escapes him as he describes the cold— certainly not a place for Tembovu. But it surely suited the feathered legs of Mauja. And perhaps the feathers and thick hair of Katerina. The mammoth would forever be a hot-weather beast. Though as his mind painted a picture of lush mountain valleys and long summer days, he felt as though he might understand the allure of such a place.

He glances sharply to the side as Mauja mentioned a war, and the end of it. Though he could not read the secretive depths of the lead’s face or pale blue eyes. Then he found himself staring into the sly glimmer of that pale gaze, and his lead was voicing a question that he (perhaps) should have seen coming.

He swept his eyes away from the stallion, looking ahead as he mulled over the thoughts. Speaking of the lands was safe—fine, good even. It was the equines which he could not speak of. “Dorobo?” the name of his homeland slipped out of his lips as a mindless question— almost as if asking himself. “Dorobo was- is- a land of vast plains as far as the eye could see. Quite different from your mountains and valleys, Mauja,” he glances towards the white stallion. “It was dry and warm- outright hot at times. But the rains came yearly to cool things off, and everything became so lush and green then. The rivers and ponds filled, and life came out of the very ground…” his slight smile fades and his face clouds as he continues, “Our generals expanded the territory south to encompass the rainforests and east for the plateau’s resources. Greed replaced integrity and,” he shrugged, “I left as it fell apart.”

Liar. He whispers to himself. But he hadn’t lied— he just omitted his integral role in the collapse of the empire. It wasn’t important. Or, more appropriately, it was behind him.

“Do you miss it?” Shocked gaze flies to Katerina at this question. His head begins to shake and he opens his mouth to respond— before realizing that this question was aimed at Mauja. He snaps his thick, ashen lips closed. Though he was still surprised that he so easily admitted to not missing Dorobo.

He supposed Helovia was his home, now. He swung his eyes towards his friend as he plodded along, interested in his answer.