Mender, Doctor… Nightshade. Names given to him, names that were empty. At least, they were without Kou. She had made him fit for every one of those names and now he felt like a wilted outline of what he once was. It was one of those normal dark days, the shade had left his home to think, to perhaps find a clue before he started rampaging through every herd on Helovia. As that was his last resort. He’d walked past the rolling green of the Foothills and onwards towards the Threshold, a part of him wondering if his pale lover had left Helovia. If she had, he would surely find her scent here. Wide open plains met deep dark woods, both horse and hound entering undisturbed, senses alert and their mission clear. They would have quite determinedly carried on like that if it wasn’t for something quite spectacular that captured their attention. Hooves and paws slammed to a halt to observe the rising of the sun through the gaps in the trees, darkness making way for tender orange light that stung his eyes even through the branches. Days, seasons… How long had it been since the pair had seen the sun? Could Kou see it? Could Sacre and Roux, Aviya and Nao? Did the moon still follow her son, or did the golden rays even reach Mesec?

For a fair few minutes the bonded duo stood and watched, their eyes slowly and painfully adjusting, for the first time d’Artagnan could happily say he had missed the sun and the comfort it brought. A strange feeling and one he would remember for a while. The Doctor would have continued staring for longer if it wasn’t for a strangers voice that pierced his thoughts and sent Aramis into growling fits. This scent… Was strange. d’Artagnan had never smelt something like this before, what in hells name was it?! The Nightshade quickly turned, the rising sun forgotten for now, and followed his guard dog to find the source of the strange presence. Turning corners and dodging the odd rearing root, for the second time the blood coloured stallion slammed on the breaks and almost sat down in his halt.

What was that? It? Thing?

If one looked down you would see the quite natural four legs covered in flaring red fur and the solid hooves of a herbivore. A horse. Like himself. Yet, if one continued to travel up the sight before him became even more perplexing, more alien and quite frightening. d’Artagnan maintained a large distance, unusual for the normally upfront Nightshade, as he tried to order his scrambled mind to the creature before him. Who stood a full hand higher than himself and was seemingly half hairless. Aramis was crouched down in front of his bonded, muscles rippling under thick fur as sharp teeth bared through a series of warning growls. Getting louder as the hell dog sensed d’Artagnan’s confused fear.

The Nightshade hesitated, then haltingly began to speak in his deep and brusque vocals "Who are- uhm" swallowing, he frowned and rephrased his question. His startled face was framed by the rising light from above. "What are you?" He rather demanded, refusing to travel any closer to the unnatural being.