She spoke of the Throat, and it only made his happiness linger on. She did not speak of it in a cruel way, not like Ricochet or many of the other outsiders would. She thought of it's benefits, and that was enough to give him some hope. Maybe some day she really would want to leave the colds of the North and the companionship of Mauja, for him. "Frostfall is certainly much easier there. I don't know how you manage to survive so far North. This is the longest cold season I've seen." He spoke, forcing his face to be void of the turmoil it almost held at mention of her distant home. She was happy now, and he would not let himself spoil it.

Unfortunately, mention of the foals seemed to shock Faelene. The smile fell from her face, and again he had to fight from frowning, though the look of concern in his gold eyes was unmistakable. He had clearly said adopted, so she could not worry that he had been unfaithful to her, could she? He wondered if she would worry about his faithfulness at all, though she had reacted quite venomously when he'd told her of Melissa in the Arch. When she asked of the number he'd taken in, he let a small chuckle pass his throat. His voice was still not as exuberant as it was before, not while the garnet locked dove looked so stricken. "Only two, Faelene. I found them in the Threshold on my patrol, their parents had disappeared, and the children seem to think they were killed somehow. The filly, Nefertari, asked me to take her and her brother in as my own." His chords hung in the air as he looked out across the snow covered meadow, wistfully. "I didn't have the heart to tell her no. They are both safe in the Throat now. And I've been doing my best to learn how to be a father to them. He let his gaze rise back to Faelene's dark eyes, a soft smile on his maw, waiting to see what she'd say to all of this. He did not expect her to be mad, for he believed that she would have done the same thing. He was sure she had a strong maternal streak, even if it had never had the chance to be used. She was no weak mare, not with everything she'd been through in her life, or what little he knew of it. In the midst of his thoughts, he looked at her with an admiring expression. Out of all the mares in the world, it was her he wanted to be with. He'd given in to the realization that fate had decided it, and he'd either be chasing her around for the rest of his life, or standing by her side, if she would ever will it. "The foals are old enough to care for themselves pretty well. There is certainly no need for you to worry about them. I just wanted to tell you about them." He tried to reassure her, and paused before continuing. "Do you like foals, Faelene?" White tendrils of air left his mouth in a quiet sigh. There is so much that I don't know about you."



[ooc: I had to try out the lovely new table/manip imi made me <3]

How many nights he'd awakened, thinking of his dark desire sitting in the freezing winds of the North. Wondering if she stood alone in the glass caves where they'd first met, or if she stayed with the warmth of her broken herd. She looked to Mauja with devotion still, that much was clear. It was all he could to keep from wondering whether that white beast ever touched her ebony hide.

Shaking the turbid thoughts from his mind, Leander kept the same enduring smile on his sooty lips. She was happy enough now, and that was all that mattered for the moment. "I am glad you have been well, Faelene. I have worried about you. This Frostfall is one of the worst I've ever seen." Concern traced his features, as it so often did when he professed such things to her. With some hesitance, he went on. "You know that you would always be welcome in the Throat, if you ever needed shelter. No one would harm you there. You would need only to let them know that you have been welcomed by me." His words were careful, but still rang with certainty. He knew no one in the Throat would harm her, even if she was recognized as an ex-Edge. There was really no telling what Kri would think of him welcoming Faelene into the herd. Still, he could not deny that if Faelene asked him to leave with her, he would be hard pressed not to. The loyalty he felt for both the Throat and Faelene held the same weight in his heart, though in very different ways.

She spoke of the foals, and he kept silent as she did. The mention of them seemed to have shaken the silver eyed mare. Fortunately she did not dislike young ones, as he was afraid of. Letting his visage warm again, the aureate stallion reassured her. "Little Nefertari, the filly, loves just about anyone. I think she is especially infatuated with Unicorns." He grinned, remembering how fond his adoptive daughter had seemed around Faelene's kind. "Her brother, Amenhotep, is a little more reserved. And stubborn, I might think. But he is a good boy; he cares for his sister very much. I know they both would like you, Faelene." Again, the confidence in his voice was clear. The foals were kind enough, and even if the colt was a bit of a silent type, they would need to like the mare who had his heart. Someday, he hoped they would meet her.

Again, the soft brush of her muzzle met his skin, sending tingles radiating across his golden hide. He reached out to trace his lips against her ruby mane, cherishing every second of closeness they had, as she moved to face him. The smile that laid on her face warmed him, more so than any look anyone else could give. "I will tell you anything you want to know, love." The fond title presented itself easily, as if it was something he was used to calling her. "The foals will be alright. They are not too much trouble for me, and they stay mostly in the Throat for now. I do not trust them out on their own much at times like these."


[ooc: Sorry for the delay! <3 My life has been crazy lately, but I haven't forgotten you!]

Words of agreement met his comment on the severity of Frostfall, and silently the warrior wondered what he could do to make the season easier on her. He had no expectations of her cutting ties with her group, though he often hoped she might leave them for a home with him in the end. That unspoken desire always seemed to drive him, to keep him going; that maybe they would not always have to meet out in the wilderness as if they had some shameful love.

Gold eyes brightened gently as Faelene responded to his invitation, not spurning it as he feared. Cream strands flounced while he nodded in understanding. "You can come whenever you like. Just know that you will be welcome there, and that it would be a safe place to stay if you need one." Genuine tones left his maw, still somewhat hesitant - as if mentioning the Throat might still have the potential to upset things. Still, he held on to his hope that she truly would visit his home, and maybe even decide to stay. After pausing a moment to look across the white expanse of the meadow, bronze orbs fell back to her onyx face. It was so easy to forget the worry of what was to come when lost in the dark lines of her cheek.

The palomino quieted as she spoke of the children, only grinning at the idea of anyone staring strangely at such a beautiful sight. He knew the foals would take to her, if only she wanted to meet them someday. When times were better, they would see. It seemed like maybes punctuated all his thoughts, but again the sweet voice hit the air, and he was again contented just to be near the dark mare. The warmth of her touch fell into his side, and he could not fight the sigh of ecstasy that left his lips. His browned muzzle continued to stroke locks of garnet as she spoke, only stopping as words of demons hindered some of his ease. "It seems like peace is not going to come easily for us now." Apprehension laced the stallion's profile as he went on, sights moving once more to the uncertain landscape. "I fear that more bloodshed is on it's way. I would beg you to avoid any battles, but I know that would be of no use. If things do come to war, just remember that I love you. No matter what happens."