The sound of her name fails to drag Warlight from her cloying sleep, but it causes her to stir, kick-starting some dream about a friend she hasn't seen in far too long. She shifts as his scent reaches her and she recognizes it, even in sleep.
With his touch she fully awakens, rolling up to lay on her belly with her four legs folded to one side. Sleepily, with blinking red eyes and a crusty nose, she smiles at him and doesn't think to wonder how terrible she must appear. "Hey, Clay." Her scratchy voice is soft yet bright, as she realizes that he looks as healthy as ever, and quite different from the young colt she had last seen galloping across the beach.
Then the nameless boy is there, as he always had been these last week, pushing into Clayton with a fierceness she hadn't seen in him before. The Will uses the moment to rock to her feet as the young stallions scuffle, grateful that her struggling effort could go unnoticed by them. In the moment before she has gained her balance Warlight notices the unsuitability of the place she had slept with embarrassment, but it passes quickly and she is on the move full of determination and mild annoyance.
Ears pinned, the antlered girl pushes forward, bringing herself between the two if it is needed. At a year older than herself Raul is taller and more powerful than she would ever be, but even though he has yet to speak a word to her she knows he will not hut her. "Stop," she interrupts, barking at both at once as her deep sapphire eyes sweep between them. "This is my friend, Clayton. We grew up together." She pauses, her gaze searching the mismatched eyes of Raul, suddenly unsure of how to introduce the pale stallion who has been her silent keeper and comrade during the nights of fever dreams and bitter chills.
— soul as sweet as blood red jam —
![[Image: Warlightpageddoll1.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/NMPHtrtV/Warlightpageddoll1.png)