If Rexanna had a favor to ask of Ashamin, then of course he would oblige. Were she only a friend, he would have obliged. But the fact of the matter was that there was something closer about their relationship now, something that simply could not be defined as simply as friends could. They had a child together, and that had changed their dynamic even more than Ashamin had expected. Whenever they were alone together the question became: who was to care for Rein? And though the child was certainly not a burden, was rather a joy that had lit up Ashamin's life, it was another thing that Ashamin did need to worry about, now.

If they were in a pinch then Ashamin would leave his companions with the boy, but luckily they had found a good babysitter in Johnny this time. Ashamin needed all the help Lochan and Rakt could provide, and their company alone was good enough encouragement. For the favor that Rexanna had asked was not a mere errand collecting herbs, it was in fact the retrieval of an entire being.

That was another thing entirely.

Ashamin's magic to manifest was new and still weak, without encouragement and the occasional moment to rest it would not have maintained its tether. But somehow the haruspex managed to pull it off, and so from this dark stranger's heart he pulled forth a creature, one very unlike his own.

What Ashamin saw in this fugitive's breast was a roiling mass, streaks of dark blue electricity that bonded together to form a dripping, drooling creature on four legs. Light glowed from its ribs, blue and white and looking more deadly than it was. Its face was a skull, its horns twisting back just like the captive's. It's form, altogether no larger than some of the wild dogs Ashamin had seen in the woods, was covered in electric chains.

This, the first time Ashamin had used his new magic on another, was a terrifying result. Ashamin had seen only his own heart, but that vision had been fleeting and not concrete. Why was this stallion's so ugly, so haunted? With every step it clawed at its eyes, looking back as if for something left behind. But these were just what Ashamin saw in the other buck's heart, shadowy reflections of a poorly formed perception. That, then, was the question. Why did Ashamin see this stallion as so hideous, so great and vicious a threat that he needed to be in chains?

Ashamin was thankful when the border came into view. His two companions were tired from constantly circling the companion that was their natural predator, from putting on brave faces and waving budding antlers in the hellhound's face. Ashamin's coat, covered in sweat, shuddered as his heartbeat magic was released and the manifestation's resting rate was allowed to turn to normal. To twist the heartbeat had not only been taxing, but it had forced Ashamin to watch the contortion--to see the pain of his magic as if inflicted on this creature.

Through all of that, he had barely noticed the striped stallion Rexanna herded towards their home. And though he was tired when Rexanna called for a lead, he did not hide the electric spirit. He cast a hollow glance at the prisoner, still unsure as to why they were taking him captive, and moved slowly towards Rexanna. His body felt weighted down, despite the fact that he wore only his sarong, necklace, and coil. Frankly, he was exhausted.

"Let him stay as my prisoner for now, Rex," he whispered to her once he was close enough, casting a nervous look towards the stallion. "I don't trust you with the beast I feel in him." His long tail moved to brush against her side, his body assumed an offensive stance. Should they be met with resistance, he would be ready.



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Ashamin felt stiff. He formed himself like a statue, remained steady and unbroken before his friend and co-parent, and steeled himself even more in the face of the stranger. This stallion... who was he? He asked questions that Ashamin could not answer, wanted to know more of the situation than the Haruspex could explain. Rexanna's stoic answer, "Orders", was better than anything Ashamin could have come up with.

He would let that matter rest there. Deimos arrived, all strong and tall and dark and deadly as always, and Ashamin's heart rattled in nervous and broken rhythms. Would he ever calm down before his lord, or would he always be reminded of those seconds of near death?

The question hung in the moments before Deimos spoke. When the accolade came it was unexpected; the haruspex, travelling so far outside the duties of his rank, couldn't help but find it undeserved. He nodded numbly, assuming most of the compliment was for Rexanna, and turned his gaze swiftly back to the prisoner. The electric monster, still small and caged, threw itself on the ground with a quiet, captured sort of screech as Ashamin's two cerndyr snorted at it defensively. Was the manifestation pathetic or pitiful, vile or helpless? "We've no desire to hurt you," was all that Ashamin said to the striped stallion, whom Deimos had revealed to be called Crowley. The truth of the matter was, though, that Ashamin didn't know if that were true. He just hoped it was, and he couldn't bear to speak any longer of the stallion as if he were not standing among them.

Ashamin hoped he would be given time to find out the true meaning of the captivity; being made Crowley's guard could afford him that. With his black eyes still focused on the captives he nosed Rexanna vaguely, supporting her suggestion. "I would appreciate the chance," Ashamin said in support, "to watch over him. I consider it my duty to learn more about the bearer of this heart." As he spoke, the electric creature seemed to shrink as it rolled among its chains. What really was that creature, and who was the man that housed it?

"Besides," Ashamin said then with a casual toss of his mane, "our thief, I'm sure, has other duties and herd members to attend to." He was careful in his wording, meeting eyes with Lochan as he spoke. He didn't feel comfortable revealing too much about Rein before a stranger, let alone one with a heart like this.



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