Healing from his most recent set of battle wounds has taken longer this time. Broken ribs, it transpires, do not simply knit together as bruises and cuts do. They take time, and a lot of pain, in order to return to their usual position. Weeks of agony have blurred into one for the blackened leviathan, but at long last he feels a little more alive. His side still aches intermittently, but it is not unbearable anymore.

His fractured relationship with Vadir has shown signs of healing too, thankfully. They have begun to speak to each other again, albeit in overly-formal broken speech. He thinks it will be a while before they are back to being the inseparable bonded pair they once were, but he now has confidence that it will happen. Together with both his dragons, he has been musing on the appearance of Kisamoa on the beach and what it can possibly mean for the Helovia populace. Last time a seemingly benevolent new God appeared, it ended horribly for masses of the gathered soldiers. Volterra fears that it could happen again, and so he has no intention to trust the sea beast anytime soon.

To try and pick up clues, he has been spending a lot of time down at the beach. Sand clogs his feathered feet as he finally leaves the shore to head inland for grazing, but his mind is still full of what Kisamoa's appearance might mean. The red dragon rides on his back, but Vadir is off hunting. Her own wounds have finally healed enough to allow her to move and fly freely again, and she is desperately re-building the strength in her muscles.

As the stallion moves between the trees to graze, his nostrils detect the aroma of a familiar mare. She approached him on the beach when Kisamoa appeared, but he didn't have chance to speak to her amongst the chaos. "Vitani," he greets as he meanders towards her. "Hello again." He flashes her a grin, whilst his dragon twitches his long crimson tail.

He quizzically tilts his head at the cold expression on the mare's face, wondering what could have upset her. She hadn't seemed aloof during their previous meeting, and it does not escape his notice that her dog's heckles are up as well. He is grateful that Vadir is not here, for fear of what she may have done to avenge the hellhound's attitude, but on his back Vérzés gives a small growl of warning. The dog then stalks off, and Volterra watches her go with evident interest in his eyes. Is she picking up on her bonded's emotions, or just naturally aggressive towards almost-strangers?

Did you follow me here? He shakes his colossal head, not wanting the mare to think he is some sort of stalker. Of course, he does follow his women around to ensure no other man tries to have their wicked way with them, but Vitani is not his. He might be rather intrigued by her, but there's a long way to go yet. "No. I was on the beach, searching for clues as to what Kisamoa may be up to, then decided to head into the forest to graze." The leviathan gestures with his nose to the sand that clogs the feathers of his feet.

He falls silent for a moment before speaking again. "Your hound seemed less than pleased to see me. Is that just her, or a reflection of you?" The question is blunt and straight to the point - Volterra is not the sort of man to beat around the bush.

He can't help the stab of relief that spasms through him as Vitani reveals that it's her dog, not her, who greeted him with such aggression. Despite himself, the mare intrigues him. He doesn't like the idea of her hating him already. "Toy with you?" Perhaps the dog is more astute than he'd thought, although probably not in the way she thinks. "She has nothing to worry about. I may....enjoy the company of women, but I do not play games." This is the truth. Volterra is an open book, an open flame. He does not hide his promiscuous ways, and he would not string a woman along if she demanded to be his one and only. He is honest and upfront about his polygamy, and prides himself on it.

She questions if her dog was right, and the leviathan shakes his head. "As I say, I am not that sort of man. I am open about the way I choose to live, and it does not shame me." It doesn't. Others, for unfathomable reasons, frown on stallions acting like stallions. Apparently they should smother their urges and live like priests, eternally miserable and refusing to indulge in a woman or two for fear it will upset the delicate sensibilities of the Helovian populace. Not Volterra. He will change for nobody. "I admit that I do not live like a monk, but I would not toy with a mare if she thought me hers and hers alone." Isopia flutters unwittingly into his head, but he forces her aside. That was different - he had been planning on telling her.

The leviathan looks her straight in the eye. "Does that bother you?" he questions.

The dog reappears, her muzzle dipped in blood. Immediately Vérzés licks his chops hungrily, the scent of blood heavy in his nostrils, but a firm command from Volterra tells him to stay where he is on the leviathan's back. It is in the dragon's nature to want to attack any that he perceives as taking his prey, but the stallion has no intention of allowing him to indulge such a desire.

What do you mean, when you say you don't toy with a mare if she thinks of you as hers and hers alone? The beast's brow furrows in confusion, sensing that they are entering dangerous territory here. "I would be quick to inform her that it can never be the case. Monogamy is not for me, Vitani, nor, in my opinion, should it be for any man with balls between his legs." There's a surprising fierceness in his voice and he stomps one heavily feathered hoof to emphasise his point. He loathes monogamy - it is unnatural, the domain of lesser men and of women who should know better. Any mare that thinks she has the sole right to a man's heart and loins needs to be swiftly corrected from her erroneous thinking.

"For animals like us, monogamy is not a viable way to ensure the survival of the species. It is unnatural." He realises that he may be offending the mare, which he doesn't want to do, but this is something he is passionate about. He likes her, hopes they can be friends - or more - but she needs to know who he is. What he is.

There is a caveat, though. Polygamy is not bad, not intrinsically selfish as some think it is. "That does not mean a polygamous man cannot look after his women. He will protect them with his life, and will care for all of them equally." His tirade finished, the giant fixes Vitani with his piercing red gaze, keen to gauge her reaction.