Young Blood [Any/All]

[Krigare]

He had allowed emotion to cloud his judgement. Something the bay stag found himself doing often these days. This was unlike his true self. The stallion that was once so against the feeling the brewed deep inside of him now. A feeling that the labaster doe had struck a match under and sent a burning.

Love.

It was this that sent him far away from Tephra. Away from Beqanna entirely. He gave himself two weeks. A time period long enough for him to think. A time for him to decide if this life was what he most truly desired, and it was. Two weeks was all he needed, but then he needed more time... and some more. Those two weeks grew to a month, and that month was too long.

He made his return to Tephra gradually. Like one would dip themselves into a hot bath. One toe at a time, it was simply impossible for him to charge right into this. 

The warmth was the first indicator, the salty smell of the air was the next, and the unmistakable glow of the volcano was his last indication that he had returned home.

Tephra.

Zephyr, he needed to find Zephyr. There were only two places the pale mare could be, and judging from the lack of unsettled leaves, their hollow was not one of them. He meandered to the coast line next, the ash ladened air slowly giving way to salt scented breezes. It is here that he sees her. She stands unbothered int he waves that lap slowly at her chest, she is sinking, and he is ready to cry out in protest.

But the children catch his eye. Two brothers, deep in color and so concerned for the pale woman that waded in the waters. He listened to them speak as he approached, dark mass moving swiftly across the pale sand.

It is now that he chooses to call to her, his voice steel against the soft water.

"This is not you Zephyr."

Krigare regards the children momentarily, a soft nod as an indication to his thanks. They had postponed whatever it was the mare was choosing to do. And he was grateful.

((UNEDITED))