He wasn't a warrior, no, but Apollo had no qualms about patrolling wherever assistance was needed, to check in on things and make sure that mischief wasn't brewing beneath their hooves. It allowed for him to get out and stretch his legs, roam the lands, survey the changes that always seemed to be happening in Helovia and try to stay in the know-how... And that was where he found himself now, the 'Blood Falls', a northern landscape that the Merciful hadn't had the misfortune of traipsing before.

Rarely did he venture to these new aspects of Helovia, these foreign locations that didn't ring any bells inside of his memories. In his increasing years, Apollo had become a creature of habit, not venturing anywhere that he hadn't been before. It was easier that way, both mentally and physically. His favorite place of travel was the Deep Forest due to the many memories it held, but alas, his assigned destination hadn't been a choice of his own.

The closer that he drew to the foreign land, the slower his pace became. It was... Ominous, for the lack of a better term. Ridiculously tall tress clustered around him, towering above him, making him feel small and petty, crimson-colored leaves doing wonders at nearly completely blotting out the afternoon sun. It reminded him of the Deep Forest, save far creepier, and Apollo knew that if he hadn't called the Deep Forest home for many suns and moons during his early-years in Helovia, he would be spooking and balking at every sound.

At least he wouldn't be patrolling this unknown location alone...

Ktulu would be joining him, or, at least, that was the plan. The lady Constrictor had been assigned as his patrolling partner, and Apollo was equal parts excited and nervous to see her. Granted, they lived in the same herd, shared the same grass, drank from the same streams... But it had felt like an eternity since they had spoken. They talked, but rarely, and their brief encounters and discussions were far from the intellectual debates and heartfelt words they used to share in the past.

It made his heart ache.

Upon his withers, Zola was perched cautiously, tiny nostrils twitching as she breathed in the odd scents of this unknown area. She could sense her bond-mate's unease, and so struck up a gentle purr in an attempt to calm his growing anxiety. 'It's okay, Apollo,' she murmured within their minds, tail stroking soothingly across his spine in small, loving ministrations, 'We won't be here for too long, and then we can go home.'

"You're right," the monochromatic stallion responded, his tone lightening considerably despite the anxiety that still clutched his heart, "We just need to wait for Ktulu."

And so, the unicorn and feline refrained from venturing deeper into the ominous, crimson-leafed trees, and instead decided to wait for Ktulu to join them before beginning their patrol.

'Apollo.'

Her word took him by surprise, and the stallion was uncertain how he missed her arrival. Was he truly so lost in his own thoughts that she was able to approach him completely unaware? The Constrictor's greeting is short and to the point, just that simple utterance of his name, and if he had been younger or any more meek than he already was, he would have shied back under the powerful syllables of his name. No other greeting or words of acknowledgement left her lips, and the Merciful's honey-brown eyes lingered upon the dark lady for a few moments longer, taking in her stern face and stoicism before looking away.

Upon his back, Zola's concern only grew, but she hunkered down into a slouched position along his withers, watching the scene unfold with empty sockets.

"Ktulu," Apollo greeted in kind, his voice far softer than it should have been, dipping his head in greeting to Eytan. He wanted to say more, how it was 'good to see her', how 'he missed her', but he didn't. It was no longer his place. She was angry with him. Disappointed, probably, and despite their extensive history and formerly close relationship, he felt that he could no longer hold her shining crimson gaze. That he wasn't worthy. It almost felt like before, in the Grey, when he was a meek, sheltered, and inexperienced newcomer to Helovia and Ktulu was nothing more than his devoted superior, intimidating and powerful.

But was he truly much more now? What place did he have to try for her attention? For her friendship?

None.

Bitterness coated his tongue and stung his throat, his heart heavy with sadness and self-depreciating thoughts, but he nodded his head solemnly at her shortly spoken words and fell into step behind her. This situation only served as a cruel reminder that those he loved, those he grew close to, inevitably grew distant, left him, or died. It was the trend, but perhaps this was for the best? What foolish thought did he have to think that he'd stood a chance with the powerful, spitfire Constrictor?

That chance was long gone, Apollo knew, but did that mean that their friendship was lost with it? Ktulu had been a constant, steady rock in his life here in Helovia, ready and willing to help in any way, but now...

The silence was deafening, the only sound being that of their own hooves and the occasional whispers of the forest around him. All of his previous fears about the place were forgotten, swallowed by the unending anxiety and sadness that plagued him. He opened his mouth to speak, thought better of it, and simply grew quiet. What could he say? What could he do? Terror gripped at his heart in a way that it never had before, and for the first time, Apollo found himself terrified that his time within the Falls was growing less and less. Was he still welcome? Considered family?

He wanted to ask about Ktulu's son, Murtagh, the young colt he had met seasons back. And Lakota's. He wanted to ask how such a thing had happened, but it wasn't his place. His business. He wanted to ask how she had been, what she had been doing, but... Nothing about her personal life was his business, not anymore. Not even as one friend to another.

The proverbial rocks that they stood on were unsteady, too slick for their hooves, and one wrong move might topple them into the wrong direction.

"... I've never been to this part of Helovia," Apollo murmured softly instead, his tone careful, as though trying to avoid confrontation with the dark mistress ahead of him, "It seems quiet."