Locket decided to take an impromptu adventure out of the Foothills for the first time since joining the Grey. The land of rolling hills and hardy grasses was a delightful place to be but the flighty warrior was aching to see more of the mysterious land. He was sure his new role would likely take him far and wide so surely it wouldn't hurt to know a little about the surrounding areas. Over the past few days Locket had been thinking about a lot of things and his mood fluctuated between frightened uncertainty and a fiery pride. These two emotions constantly clashed within him making him more and more withdrawn with each passing day. He felt a sense of guilt for it seemed to any watching that he had simply given up the Foothills, Locket had never had so much on his small shoulders before and he constantly worried over whether he made the wrong decision. It was almost like in that very moment, when Ophelia had turned to him plea for them to surrender, that he was almost Chief himself. He made the decision that should have been Jackals.

Now he was paying the price for that responsibility.

There was no one to tell him whether he had been right or wrong, whether he had done the sensible thing to turn the land over to the Grey or whether he had trembled in cowardice. Should he have died that day? If his blood had been spilt, choked his last breath and his heart stuttered to a stop would that have been the more honourable, heroic thing to do? Locket found that his heart had begun to ache for his mother, he figure so vivid in his mind, the curls that wove round her delicate horn and her eyes that shone with nothing but a dam's love for her child. She would know what to say, she would know how to make everything feel okay and nip his flank in playful love. Yet he was grown now and a stallion of war at that, these things shouldn't trouble his mind. He had played with the idea about talking to Archibald about his emotional trouble, but he was frightened the brute would look down upon him in disappointment. So he kept his alabaster mouth firmly shut.

In his sour musings Locket had roamed far and only noticed when he felt the rise in heat. Ears roved in uncertainty whilst his gaze searched for the source only to find two others already inspecting the blazing hole. The night drew on and day would come soon, but still the red hues were stark against the midnight sky. For a moment all Locket could do was watch, captured by the beauty of colours that melded together in beautiful dance. Slowly he dragged his gaze away from the scene and looked upon the two strangers, a roan and a white. Both spotted.

The warrior was a little dumb founded as to what to do next, for between them there seemed a certain knowing, certainly from the mare in any case. The bigger one with a blue horn spoke in some language he didn't understand and the mare appeared to be apologizing for no reason. What a strange pair they were! Locket felt like he was almost intruding even from where he was standing, but surely they had sensed him and it would be rude to simply walk away now without speaking. With cautious steps the panda faced lad made his way over to the pair, his face a mask of uncertainty when he stopped before them adorned in masses of curly mane. "Mornin'" he said simply.

For what else could he say?