fuck all your dreams; they're not all they seem.
It would not be long ‘til visitors would come, he realised. He knew of at least one other band of horses who intended to take a land (the former Tundrans, joined with a few other kingdoms of old, to form something of a mega-kingdom). He knew that the land simply would simply not remain unexplored.
He smells them first, whiffling the scent of them through his sensitive tiger’s nose. He found himself slipping into this feline form more and more, moving through the dense forest with ease. He felt truly at home, for the first time in what felt like forever. And now, he moves through Taiga silently, a striped shadow once more.
They are somewhere near the border, although the borders are not well defined and Romek realises that he cares little for keeping them as a sharp rule. He slips from the underbrush quietly, shifting into his equine form as he does so, not wishing to worry the mare and the child (mother and daughter, perhaps, but they look nothing alike) who almost certainly pose no threat to anyone here.
He inclines his head towards Ruan and Jinju, before turning to face these visitors. He does not say welcome, for Ruan has already spoken.
”You both look tired. Come and drink from our streams, and eat our grass.” He was no diplomat by nature, and his golden eyes are possibly not as friendly as they could be, but he is still sincere. After all, their land is one of refuge and safety above all, and the forest is plentiful enough for all. ”And then we shall talk. I am Romek, one of the three leaders here.” and with that he falls silent and turns to lead them to the nearest stream.
Romek