The fellow's retort brought a chuckle from the depths of Ricochet's chest and had his rib cage trembling with the effort of the laugh. "A kind such as you is too few these days of age." Ricochet's laughter dwindled to an end as his eyes sharpened with dangerous thoughts. He could not let a gem like this slip through his hooves, not with such fantastic potential on display.

The look faded as their conversation continued, the moment passed, but not forgotten. This was not the place nor the time to discuss anything more in detail anyway. "So long as you keep your allegiance low, none will think better or worse of you for leaving at any time. Travelers are a frequent thing here, but traitors are another matter..." Ricochet responded evenly, his gaze holding the stallion steady. He would not lie and say that a herd's hospitality came with no fee, nothing ever did. Yet it was a truth to say that the herd would miss a stallion they barely ever knew, and the leads certainly made no move to ensure the ranks were swollen and duties fulfilled. The unicorn and his slut were apathetic flies on the decaying carcass of the realm they secured. Even flies cleaned the corpses they settled on though, turning decay to dust - Ricochet could not say the same of The Valiant and The Virtuous that ascended a throne only to rot in it.

The contempt he felt brought a sneer to his lips and a pain to his scar. He turned away, annoyed by his position. He could not accomplish much without support, but he could not garner support with little to offer. He could only rely on his charm, and that never seemed to be a wise choice. If only he could fight his way to success, he'd be sure to don a crown, yet politics forced him to act in shadows when he himself was a flame. It was madness.

The pitiful cry of the dame roused an annoyed slant to Ricochet's ears. The dog at her side perked up, shuffling to her side to offer his warm tongue for support. Ricochet frowned.

"The herd will always stand and the offer similarly so long as I reside there. I encourage you to consider the promise... I'd hate to see your talents wasted in the outlands." Ricochet said simply, gaze twisting back to the stallion. He held it there for a moment before swinging it and his body towards the pathetic mare. Shifting into a trot he drew by her side, his breath a fast gust of steam as he bowed his neck to stare down upon her.

"Guns!" he commanded sharply, tail cracking on his flanks in tempo with the voice. The collie flinched away from the mare, amber eyes lifting. "Encourage her another way..." Ricochet intoned, his volume decreasing to a cool exhale. The stare held for a moment before the dog broke it with a twist of his head. In the blink of an eye the helpful, happy mutt turned savage. His lips pulled taut on his gums and white teeth flashed as nimble paws set him to dancing about the mare, firing nips at her haunches and hocks.

Ricochet needed her to rise if she hoped to live. The time to retrieve a healer and return would leave only her remains in greeting, torn as much by wolves as wind. If she wanted any help she'd have to start the favor and make the trek home with him where he could properly find the healing mare.