we heal with love,

tGreen eyes widened in amazement at the unconcealed egotism in his words as he claimed the flourishing of the Edge would not happen if he were not king. She noted how his own ears pinned back after he spoke but mistook the anger in the action as frustration towards her not at himself. “Why do you believe that you are solely responsible for the Edge being prosperous? You may be our king but there are dozens of other members in this herd, all working hard to see it do well. And yet you claim all the credit.” Tembovu was undeniably more present in the herd than their Queen - who Aly had only seen around a small handful of times - but that hardly meant he was to thank for everything that was happening in the Edge right now. She knew how fragile this peace and prosperity was and hoped his ego didn’t lead them down into destruction once more.

They reached a temporary calm and when she spoke again in response to his questions she kept her voice calm as she could with that razor edge that kept slipping in. She truly could not believe how insanely self-centered Tembovu was acting right now - and she stared at him in puzzlement. “I am glad the Edge is doing well but I’m also afraid, Tembovu. You’re volatile and egotistical and our king. Your actions have an effect on this herd. Why am I at fault for raising concerns and for being afraid of you when all I’ve seen of you lately is fire and shouting?” Though, she knew, she had not raised them in a constructive manner - they both spiraled out of control with each other and she hated herself for every moment spent in anger with him.

She wanted to run but feared he would follow her. Now would be the perfect time to actually know how to use the wings she had to fly.

The calm, as anyone could expect, did not last long.

When he snapped back at her in retaliation for her own - which had been meant as a warning as he advanced on her - her eyes widened further in fear and she snorted in frustration. Now she was expected to not protect her own personal space? But to let him invade it, invade her, and control her mind and body? She had been manipulated before, on what was still the worst day of her life, and her resolve to avoid such outside influence ever again turned her to steel where she stood.

And with his final words, her anger was back - having ebbed into exasperation and fear before. A chill coursed through her as she remembered their last encounter and she looked away for a moment, only letting her own shame wash over her for a moment before her emerald eyes are focused back on his of sapphire. As much as she disliked him - disliked herself - she would never pray for the gods to smite him. Take him off the throne, sure; remove him from the Edge, of course; keep him away from her.

Even the slight lean towards her made her feel sick and she longed for the kind, handsome stallion she had once seen in the place of this hard-eyed demon before her. “Then don’t fall to them.” She commented as cooly as she could, though her voice trembled slightly. “But you’ll have no prize from me, Tembovu - better for you to find someone else for your reward for good behaviour. Please, step away.” She tried to keep her voice level, to give him no reason to lash out at her or move closer, hoping this approach would be more effective than fighting fire with fire.

alysanne