I breathed out and the breath came as a mist that hovered and seemed to freeze midair before clinging to a nearly frozen snout. It was cooler this far north, I wasn’t sure how the others handled the chill so well—but then again there were some which couldn’t fathom living within the heart of a bare desert. My time spent waiting was very short, Ktulu wasn’t one to leave her boarders unguarded. She must have heard me come in, “Midas,” my name chimed out more of an uncertain question. We both peered into the darkness, each trying to make out the other with what light was offered. Before I could respond she delved right into two other ponderings, “You’re back? Where are you?”

Smiling simply from the thrill of hearing her voice again I breathed out tenderly, “Aye dear one, I’m here.” my right wing slowly ruffles back and forth across the crook of its sheath that was my barrel, the sound would be enough for her. Limbs shuffle forward, daggers crunched upon dead grass. I headed toward the direction her voice was birthed. The strength of that feminine essence was enough for me to get close enough without us bumping into the other like blind fools. My muzzle extends to brush across her check. I wanted to offer the comfort I felt she deserved and needed—though my proud lady wouldn’t be one to admit it, “My apologizes for being late, its…hard to tell….” I pause, then whisper, “How much time has passed in this forsaken darkness.” By tone alone she seemed stressed, pulled to wits end, “How is Ranjiri? And Hototo?”

I could feel her heat, that sheltering fervor pressed against my chest. It was hard and fruitless to resist the urge of our selfish, yet simple delight—the privilege of holding her flesh against mine. Sampling that tangible, solid connectives which bound our spirits to the other. Ktulu’s scent, so vibrant and sweet. I ran my face through her silken hair, remembering its texture through memory. Gently, as was the weakness of a mortals, I led tender wet kisses in a trail down her neck. It was that same weakness that made me desire for a moment that we would never be apart again. Was it possible to love one creature so wholly, so purely?

There was fear enough for us both.

It was actually very selfish of me; somehow I harbored the idea that this wild spirit would be forever untamed. Wouldn’t forever be mine? Could I ever claim this woman? Was she going to be mine till the end of days? A throbbing lovestruck youth might say yes, and honestly I would do everything mortally possible to keep this lady for myself—allowing no other to mark her. For I was hers, and she mine. This was known, but…why was there a tight lump in the back of my throat?

My darling girl finally responses, and I smiled at her mention of our golden babe. Such a beautiful child, and an equally beautiful mother. One might call me the fool… “I haven’t seen or heard from him.” The smile was quickly replaced with a worried frown, gently I nuzzled her locks and said, “Surely he is fine, a strong lad you bore and raised to adolescence. However,” her tone hadn’t appeared to be one of worry, so I tried to lighten mine, “Should I see him, I’ll express the responsibility of a son to not give their mother reasons for fretting.” With humor and budding hope I turned the conversation back to Ranjiri, my fascination in the growing child increased each time we interacted, “Is she close?” I whispered eagerly, “Can I see her?”

The darkness didn’t help with rising worries and fears; but seeing my family like this. Perfect, and together. It was the way things should be. If only we could find the method for maintaining; surely, my coming around every few days kept our love alive. Kept me alive inside. How long though? When would she turn me away when the affections of another male came into our mist? She deserved something better, a man that was around 24/7. One to offer protection and security.

I could offer naught when pressed far away. Leaving wasn’t an option; neither hardheaded adult would budge from their home. Many a relationship had thrived over the years being at a distance—only time would tell if we could muster a likeness. I loved her with all my being, every fiber would bleed for the constrictors honor, and I would raise my banner in her name. Yet. Dragon’s Throat held my vow, a history of parenting that spawned young lions and lionesses. To deny my home, would be as if spitting in my father’s face.

To promise everything—often means pain.

Ktulu led me over to our sleeping cherub, the faint outline was hidden among the dense fur of Eytan. I smiled and lowered my muzzle when she brushed her maw against our daughter’s cheek. How big she was, yet, how fragile. I sighed also and breathed warmth across her forehead in a mist. A horn already started to form, it was soft and still babyish. As was were her feathered down. So the horn would harden, and those primary feathers would come in.

Her beauty never ceased to strike me. The combination of both sire and dam made a miraculous filly. One that would soon be ready for her first gliding lesson. My eyes glowed with affection as I gently kissed her forehead and brushed away a golden lock of hair, “Precious babe,” I whispered, “You grow too fast.” Cranium rose reluctantly and I gazed up at Ktulu with tenderness in my softened pools. A thought came to me and quietly so not to disturb the child I asked, “Ktulu, why did you take your leave of Dragons Throat?” We had never discussed it before—and I was curious.

“Kri and I do not see eye to eye,” I smile with faint humor, just the hint of corners turned up in amusement. Her answer was an expected one; very few could withstand the temper of our leads. They were pure desert hardened beasts of carnage—bur there was also a gentleness if only one dared hang around for the sampling. Just as there was a softness to Ktulu behind a shell of that youthful entrepreneur head. I wasn’t sure what my Lady was trying to prove in this merciless life, but then again that inner question could be reversed to myself.

Do not forget your fathers face.

“I find the desert very oppressing.”

Though her choice of words wasn’t fully understood at least by its reasoning, I didn’t press further. To a Pegasus nothing was freer than having the world below; close to heaven we stood, close to our Gods. Dragon’s Throat had the widest sky. Having already learned that people would share when they felt good and ready, I waited to see if she would share more on this topic without me having to ask. Instead on dwelling toward a thought that obviously wasn’t ready to be fully discussed, Ktulu ventured toward a question of her own. One that made me blink and cast my gaze to the ground with heartsick emotion turning my throat into a tight ball.

“How long do you think we can keep doing this, Midas?"

The million framed question of our night. She was dangling before me, like an object that I could see, touch, even smell—yet, unreachable in its wholeness. I had been selfish. Not willing to admit that the woman I loved was hurting on the inside and there was nothing to be done to correct it. Nothing to change that fact. If I went with her, I would be miserable—we would be miserable through time. There were others who counted upon me, and in the coming weeks they would count upon me double fold in ways that I couldn’t even fathom.

“We’re trying but sometimes I think that we’re not meant to last.”

My frown deepened and the very core of my being felt a sadness that was unexplainable. “We’re not meant to last.” I forced a smile, tainted with pain that was concealed with love and darkness, “I’ve hurt you, and for that I cry your pardon,” soft as the fur on a babes belly my voice slips quietly into a lull, “When I fell in love with you, it was before our hooves walked a separate path.” Glancing up I attempted to lock eyes with her so that she might witness the bare soul beneath; the fragile one very few got to see. I was scared. Scared senseless when I had admitted my love to this beautifully wild creature, and now terrified of losing it. “Until the day you wish to see me no more, I will come…until that day and all that follow. I will keep on loving you. I've got no other answer.” Each word was like a dagger in me; she could turn me away at any moment. It was her right.