He was finishing a patrol, and he was tired. He was worn. It did not show in the corners of his eyes, or in the curve of his face, or in the hardness of his muscle--but it did show in the cold, dull gold of his eyes. Ever since the meeting with the Earth God, Archibald had nearly tripled his patrols. If there was something out there, some thread to his herd, he would do anything in his power to defeat it. Perhaps he needed to visit the Veins of the Gods and as the Earth God to strengthen his magic, or his armor. Loretta whined lightly, trying to press the idea of duty from Archibald's mind. It was a fruitless endeavor, however, for the massive stallion was built on his dedication to duty.

On top of the looming unease in the lands, Ktulu was off. She was away on a mission Archibald had charged her with, but all he wished now was that she was here. He wished her to be here, leading his warriors with Ciceron by her side. He wished...he wished her to be here, to stand next to him at night while Lakota took a patrol, so he could watch her sleep. He wished she were here to share his thoughts with. His closest friend in the world was far off in the wilderness, and all Archibald had was his duty and his companion--sure, he had his brother and his daughter and his nephew, but what burden could he share with them? His job was to protect them, to make their lives worth living. He could not discuss the going-ons in his brain with them in such a way as the make them worry for him. He needed their strength and passion to stay for this herd, just as his.

Stepping into the clearing, Loretta saw her first. Demigoddess she spoke, and Archibald lifted his head. Golden eyes sought to meet golden--eyes such his own, and so apart from the Father Earth and her mother Kahlua. "Isopia, do you seek something?" He asked, stopping and squaring his posture before her. This was where the warriors met, and not near where Isopia's pool lay.

Archibald let his body relax some as Isopia acknowledged him. A slight cock of his right haunch, the tilting onto the toe, head lowering. She was just inquiring something of him, and he did not feel the need to be on such high alert. He still listened intently, and his eyes never strayed from her gaze, but his whole body seemed at ease. Loretta followed the motion, her body lowering to sit. Her amber eyes looked to the dragon and her jaws parted, a pant drawing her salmon tongue from the cage-like trap of her jaws. She remembered the white dragon in between her teeth, smaller than the bronze was now. She remembered shaking it vigorously, and throwing it against a tree. She remembered killing the white dragon. Oddly, even as she and her bondmate relaxed, she wondered if she could kill this dragon as easily. Was the bronze fast than the white? He was bigger, that was at least true. Perhaps he was stronger, better able to fight back against her teeth.

The dragon's greeting mixed with Archibald's mental rebuke of Loretta and the cur lowered her whole body onto the loamy soil, laying down. She kept looking at Hubris, however, amber eyes sparkling with curiosity. When Isopia's left her mouth and registered for Archibald, he had little hesitation than to accept her request. He did not think it audacious in the slightest. Other herd leaders may, especially Kahlua. The paint had always been a proponent of peace. Isopia, however, seemed to be a proponent of order and justice--at least, as far as Archibald had interpreted from her. These were two things Archibald himself strived for, and he knew that at times they could only be achieved through warfare. The behemoth nodded, and his maw opened, "I will accept the transfer. Our herd could always use more warriors. You have a diversity of skills, I am grateful you apply them to this herd." The words felt cursory on his tongue, useless, but for some reason he still needed to say them.