Anger, frustration, apprehension, anguish; Xanthos was feeling the painful knife of each and every one of them as he left the Foothills behind him, headed directly south from the mare's beloved homeland. Albeit faint, there was a scent, Romani's very own that he swore he would never forget. It was unsettling to have picked up on a second as well, one that was unknown to him. Hopefully, whoever it was, had brought no harm upon Romani.

At a brisk pace he passed through the Threshold, keeping an ever watchful eye on the young cub trotting along at his side. Azel was doing his best to keep up, but whenever Xanthos would lose himself in his thoughts and perhaps go a little too quick, the cheetah would let loose a rather pathetic chirp to alert him so. The grullo would slow immediately, however, and allow adequate time for the cub to catch up or pause, to rest himself a moment. "Poor thing," the stallion thought to himself, producing an inward sigh. He might have left the cub in the care of the Foothills, as there was simply no time to get back to the Edge, but he knew too little of those residing there to feel comfortable with it quite yet.

Looking ahead, the grullo settled his attention back on the task at hand. By now, he was entering the deepest part of the forest, where the palomino's scent seemed to scatter off in an array of directions. Was she even still here? Was she safe, as well as their unborn child?

"Romani!" He called out from where he stood, black ears flickering to catch any sort of hint that he was not alone. There was an undeniable waver in his voice, expressing his simple desire to have his mate back, to have a constant that had never been so, back. "Please... Are you there?"

[ooc - For Ophelia first, then open.]


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It did not take long for the grullo to receive an answer. But instead of the familiar tone of his love, there was a different one, one that he found himself unable to recognize. By now he'd come to a stop, and only a second later did his eyes find the pale form of the stranger stepping out before him.

She was a unicorn like himself, standing near his own height, and had eyes unlike any he'd seen before. The crimson staining of her mane stood boldly against her snowy pelt, this mare called Ophelia, and although she would never match the way he felt towards Romani, she was beautiful. But there were much bigger things at hand at the moment, and the grullo was quick to snap back to the reason he was here in the first place.

"Xanthos," he spoke up in return to her introduction, his golden eyes regarding her carefully as she went on. She guaranteed that Romani was indeed safe, but where was she? An ear cocked at the mention of an invasion, undoubtedly on the beloved Foothills that his mate called home, but he hadn't a clue what The Grey was. Many questions flitted through his mind, but for now, he would keep them simple.

Taking a deep breath, Xanthos then exhaled slowly, doing his best to keep his racing heart calm. Fighting was not something he wished to do, and he would remain diplomatic for as long as he could. "If I am able, I would like to have her now," he explained, "As I'm sure you've noticed, she is in child, and I simply wish to bring her to the Edge with me. Romani may be headstrong, but she wouldn't dare put herself in the throngs of an invasion in her current condition."

For a moment, the grullo paused, as if allowing his words to sink in for a moment. At his feet, Azel looked on at the pale mare with curiosity in his eyes. The cub remained quiet, however, as if knowing the importance of what was going on. Letting out another even breath, Xanthos met Ophelia's eyes, a pleading in his own. "Please." There was no doubt that this was all that he wanted, to finally have the palomino back, to finally settle with her and raise their child.


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